Italy Cuts 2019 Deficit Goal to 2% in Bid to Avoid EU Procedure

(Bloomberg) — Italy’s populist government lowered its 2019 budget deficit in a bid to comply with European Union rules and avoid sanctions for failing to rein in debt.The deficit is now expected to be 2.04% of economic output, according to a person familiar with the issue who asked not to be identified
— Read on ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/italy-cuts-2019-deficit-goal-055254991.html

Visco Says Italy’s Debt Load Is ‘Severe Constraint’ on Economy

Italy urgently needs a “credible” strategy to cut a public debt load that risks imposing a “severe constraint” on the economy, European Central Bank Governing Council member Ignazio Visco said. The ratio of debt to economic output may exceed the levels targeted by the government in its latest plan,
— Read on ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/visco-says-italy-debt-load-083350758.html

Italy Gets ECB Pushback on Debt Idea, Told to Sort Out Finances

Italy came in for further criticism from the European Central Bank on Wednesday, with policy makers rejecting the idea of a debt guarantee and renewing warnings about excessive debt. ECB Vice President Luis de Guindos said the lesson from Italy’s run-ins with the European Commission over its spending
— Read on ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/italy-gets-ecb-pushback-debt-093953352.html