Markets fell overnight on both sides of the Atlantic as Italy's borrowing costs soared, intensifying concern that efforts to contain the European Union's debt crisis aren't working.

Sharemarkets in Europe and the US are up after investors appeared to endorse the European plan to recapitalise threatened banks.

World markets rose overnight after intervention by the Bank of England and the European Central Bank eased fears about the European debt crisis.

New Zealand financial markets markets were in a holding pattern today after Europe's debt woes sparked a wave of selling around world last week.

A new report quashing hopes China's would pick up the slack from problems in the US and Europe has sent...