Big companies are borrowing more cheaply in the euro-wide bond market.

ECONOMIST: The euro economy

Italy, where bond yields soared to euro-era record levels, saw its stock market lose 25%.

WSJ: World's Woes Leave Lasting Scars

The euro crisis has spread to Italy, the world's third-largest bond market, which means the stock of rich-world government debt that is considered safe has shrunk dramatically.

ECONOMIST: Tackling the slump