Italian economy minister rules out resignation-paper

MILAN: Italian Economy Minister Giovanni Tria dismissed as "rubbish" speculation that he could step down following frictions with the ruling coalition, in comments reported by Corriere della Sera daily on Wednesday.

"Rubbish. If I were to go, we'd have to see how markets would react," Tria was quoted as saying.

In the past months recurring concerns that Tria - an academic seen by investors as a bulwark for the country's public finances - could be pushed out by the ruling parties in Rome's populist government have upset markets.

Tria has again come under pressure due to objections his ministry raised over a government decree to reimburse savers who suffered losses in bank rescues.