RENEE MONTAGNE, host: A bailout for Portugal tops NPR's business news.</s>RENEE MONTAGNE, host: Portugal's prime minister has asked the European Union for a financial rescue, making his country the third, after Greece and Ireland, to require outside help.</s>RENEE MONTAGNE, host: In recent weeks, as investors lost confidence in Portugal's ability to pay its debt, they demanded higher and higher interest rates. That made it harder for Portugal to raise funds and pushed the government to seek a bailout. An EU official estimates the rescue could amount to $100 billion.
In recent weeks, as investors lost confidence in Portugal's ability to pay its debt, they demanded higher and higher interest rates. That made it harder for Portugal to raise funds and pushed the government to seek a bailout — the third, after Greece and Ireland, to require outside help. An EU official estimates the rescue could amount to $100 billion.