20.02.2012
By Simon Miller
European markets closed up as talks continued over the Greek bailout deal.
The FTSE 100 had its best close since 8 July 2011 - 40 points higher at 5945 - while the Spanish Ibex closed 1.8% up at 8,818.1. The CAC 40 was up 32.92 at 3,472.54 and the Euro Stoxx 50 was up by 29.97 at 2,550.28.
Despite the optimism, reports are coming out that the Netherlands is playing hardball over the bailout deal.
The Guardian reported that those "close to Jan Kees De Jager," the Dutch prime minister as saying that the country would not sign up to a deal that gave €138bn (£114.5bn), not the agreed €130bn.
"Nor can we allow the debt-to-GDP-ratio slip to 125% or 129% rather than 120%. We won't sign for this," the report said.
Earlier De Jager had pushed for a permanent troika representation in Greece as a condition for the second bailout taken over "permanent" control of government decision-making on revenues and public expenditure in Greece.
Talks are expected to continue into the night.
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