The European Central Bank is maintaining its silence over its Greek bond holdings, but the debates continue behind closed doors. On one point its governing council appears more-or-less united: the ECB cannot voluntarily accept losses on its holdings, on which it spent an estimated €35bn to €40bn. To do so would breach the European Union ban on monetary financing – central bank funding of governments. Germany’s Bundesbank has said as much publicly.

More interesting is what the ECB would do if the Greek government sought to impose losses. Read more