Madrid stock index below 7,000 points, first time in 3 years

MADRID: The Madrid stock exchange's main IBEX-35 index fell below 7,000 points for the first time in three years on Thursday after the country had to pay higher rates in a 10-year bond auction.

The index of leading Spanish shares fell 1.58 percent by late morning to 6,967.7 points, dipping below the symbolic 7,000-point barrier for the first time since March 2009.