Euro states close to IMF loan pact -euro zone source

Euro states close to IMF loan pact -euro zone source
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Euro zone countries are likely to agree to lend 150 billion euros (127 billion pounds) to the International Monetary Fund via bilateral loans from their central banks, a senior euro zone source said hours before the start of an EU summit on Thursday. However, the source said a proposal to give the euro zone’s permanent bailout fund, the European Stability Mechanism, a banking licence — which could allow it to access European Central Bank funds, boosting its firepower — had been rejected. “The idea of giving the ESM a banking licence is off the table,” the source said. …