Italy's fragile economy was back in focus this week with investors closely monitoring the political landscape ahead of a referendum later this year and a new report suggesting that the country could be prepared to bypass European banking regulations. The Financial Times reported Sunday that Italy was prepared "to defy the EU and unilaterally pump billions of euros into its troubled banking system if it comes under severe systemic distress … despite warnings from Brussels and Berlin over the need to respect rules that make creditors rather than taxpayers fund bank rescues." Citing "several officials and bankers ... (full story)