Catalonia calls for help from central government to pay debts

European stock markets tumbled and Spain's borrowing costs shot up as the country's wealthiest autonomous region, Catalonia, called for assistance from central government to pay its bills.

UK banks take over €37bn in ECB loans

British banks have taken more than €37bn (£31bn) of cheap loans from the European Central Bank following last week's dash by European banks to bolster their depleted reserves .