Under the current size of the EFSF (which is the European bail out fund, similar to the TARP bail out fund created in America) they have 565 billion euros still available.
After an estimated 85 billion for Ireland, 50 billion for Portugal, and 449 billion needed for Spain, they would be short 19 billion euros:
After realizing that the market would put together this simple math, the second in command at the European Central Bank (The equivalent to our Federal Reserve) Axel Weber had this to say:
"It should be easy to convince markets with the EFSF backstop that speculation against governments will not be successful. The facility provides for up to E440 billion in government-guaranteed loans, which is in addition to a pre-existing E60 billion EU emergency fund. The IMF has also pledged up to E250 billion, bringing the total pot to E750 billion. Weber said he was convinced that if the E750 billion is not enough, Europe's political leaders "will do more."
Translation: If the European leaders do not have the political will to bail out everyone, or if it is just simply not possible with the funds available, the European Central Bank stands ready to print.
(Not to get too far ahead, but next up on the bail out list would be Italy. Then it would move over to either the UK or Japan, and it will finish with the United States. All will need a fresh ocean of printed bills to cover the tab)
Gold continues to peer on at these events with a watchful eye.
