Capital worth about 163 billion euros (200 billion
dollars) left crisis-hit Spain in the first five months of this year,
the Bank of Spain said Tuesday.
The figure includes portfolio investments, bank deposits and
credits.
More than 41 billion euros flowed out of Spain in May alone. In
the first five months of 2011, 14 billion euros more had come in than
went out.
Both national and foreign investors distrust Spain, where the
recession is deepening and which has sought up to 100 billion euros
in eurozone aid for its ailing banks.
The economic distress of the country's semi-autonomous regions is
also deepening while the government struggles to cut the 8.9-per-cent
budget deficit.
The north-eastern region of Catalonia lacked more than 400 million
euros worth of financing for hospitals and other public services in
July, the daily El Pais reported Tuesday.
A growing number of analysts believe Spain will eventually follow
Greece, Ireland and Portugal in seeking a full financial rescue from
the European Union and the International Monetary Fund.
