Maria Cannata, the head of the Italian Treasury's debt-management agency, is initiating a special bond for individual investors.

WSJ: What's News

After a spell in academia and six years at the World Bank, he spent a decade from 1991 as a senior official at the Italian Treasury.

ECONOMIST: The European Central Bank

Now what do these combined pressures on the US Treasury, the ECB, Italian and Belgian debt tell us?

BBC: Three crises prompt global stock market slide

Even some Italian banks, which long had been dutiful buyers in Italian treasury auctions, moved to the sidelines.

WSJ: European Disunion: Ties That Bound Europe Now Fraying

An Italian auction of Treasury bonds maturing in 2014 and 2018 met the high end of its target range.

WSJ: U.S. Stocks Slump

An auction of Italian treasury bulls was well-subscribed Thursday, which was somewhat of a relief to the market place.

FORBES: P.M. Kitco Metals Roundup: Comex Gold Ends Lower on Heavy Profit Taking, Weak-Handed Long Liquidation

An auction of Italian treasury bulls was even well-subscribed Thursday, which was somewhat of a relief to the market place.

FORBES: A.M. Kitco Metals Roundup: Comex Gold Lower On Profit-Taking Pressure From Recent Gains