This was not quite a commitment to lend to Greece - or Ireland or Portugal - to save it from collapse.

BBC: Chinese Premier backing the euro and the UK

There is a strong suspicion in Africa that the decision to lend or not to lend depends more on the ambition of World Bank officials than on the commitment or otherwise of the government to which they are lending.

ECONOMIST: The World Bank

Pre-borrowing is a much firmer commitment and eliminates the probability that a stock lender will lend out the same shares to several different traders.

FORBES: Curbing Short-Selling Abuse