The weight of bad loans held by Spain's banks grew in March, the Bank of Spain said Friday in a worrying report for the bailed-out industry. Doubtful loans rose to 163.257 billion euros ($211 billion) or 10.47 percent of all loans in March from 162.038 billion euros or 10.4 percent of all credits in February, the bank said. Last year, the eurozone agreed to finance a rescue of Spain's banks, swamped in bad loans since a property bubble imploded in 2008 with broad and devastating economic consequences.

Europe's main stock markets rebounded on Friday, with Paris jumping above 4,000 points for the first time since July 2011 as traders went bargain-hunting after earlier losses, dealers said. In late morning deals, the Paris CAC 40 rallied to 4,009.15 points, which was the highest level since July 7, 2011. It later stood at 3,992.65 points, up 0.34 percent from Thursday's close. Elsewhere, London's benchmark FTSE 100 gained 0.36 percent to 6,712.02 points, while Frankfurt's DAX 30 index won 0.14 percent to 8,380.06.