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Juncker expects Spain to request aid by Monday

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Eurogroup head Jean-Claude Juncker said at a press conference on Thursday that he expected Spain to formally request assistance for bank recapitalization by Monday, with the money expected to be provided from the European Financial Stability Facility, the euro-area rescue fund. The exact amount of assistance for Spain will be known after negotiations are concluded, Juncker said. He spoke after the meeting in Luxembourg of euro-zone finance ministers, which is known as the Eurogroup. In addition, Greece's so-called troika of international creditors will be invited to Athens on Monday to assess the situation in the country. The European Commission's Olli Rehn said at the same press conference that "we are following the liquidity situation [in Greece] very closely."