Credit ratings agency Fitch cut Spain's sovereign rating by three notches, from A to BBB, with a negative outlook on Thursday, saying Spain was especially vulnerable to a worsening of the euro zone debt crisis, Reuters reported.
Fitch estimated Spanish lenders need 50 to 60 billion euros in capital under their updated base case. An International Monetary Fund report due for release next Monday is expected to show Spanish banks need at least 40 billion euros, sources within the financial sector said.
Meanwhile, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Germany stands prepared, together with the other 16 euro zone countries, to do whatever is necessary to ensure the stability of the euro zone.