Draghi says no Italy talks on bad loans

(see related) (ANSA) - Brussels, February 15 - European Central Bank President Mario Draghi on Monday dismissed speculation that the ECB was negotiating with Italy to buy some of the non-performing loans weighing down the balance sheets of Italian lenders.
    "There are no talks between the ECB and the Italian government," he said.
    "I don't know where this news comes from. We are not buying anything. It's a question of seeing whether these non-performing loans in a special ABS (asset-backed securities) format can be accepted as collateral".