STEVE INSKEEP, Host: NPR's business news starts with Europe looking to China for help.</s>STEVE INSKEEP, Host: Chinese officials were reportedly in Rome last week and two weeks ago, leaders from Italy visited Beijing. The Financial Times says China may already hold some Italian bonds, though it is not clear if Beijing has bought more since those talks.
European markets remain jittery as the sovereign debt crisis drags on but investors are finding some relief in news that China may help out one of the largest economies in the European Union. Italian officials confirmed Tuesday that they've been talking with a top Chinese state investment fund about buying Italian government bonds.