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1 hr 2 mins ago

MADRID – The yields on government bonds from Spain and Italy are rising on worries that Europe’s debt crisis will spread and put pressure on other fiscally weak countries.

Yields on Spain’s 10-year bonds jumped as high as 5.7 percent by midmorning Tuesday, making for a euro-era record difference of 305 basis points against the benchmark Germany 10-year bond, which had a yield of about 2.7 percent.

The spread on Italy’s 10-year bond rose to 210 points, also the highest since the launch of the euro. Portugal, whose yields soared last week, saw its spread remain steady.

Spain and Portugal have continually denied they will need a bailout like Ireland and Greece but markets in recent weeks have not been convinced.