Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy stepped up efforts to reassure investors he can bring the country’s deficit under control as his government fights to avoid becoming the fourth euro-area member to require a bailout. Rajoy met with his health and education ministers yesterday to discuss cuts of more than 10 billion euros ($13 billion as the government reiterated its pledge to reduce the deficit to 3 percent of gross domestic product next year. That includes plans to accelerate the sale of stakes in lenders under government administration, according to an e-mailed statement. Spanish bond yields rose today, after ... (full story)