Germany's Merkel: Greek debt talks on track (by MarketWatch)

FRANKFURT (MarketWatch) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday said talks between the Greek government and private-sector bond holders over voluntary writedowns on the value of Greece's debt were on track. The negotiations "are on quite a good path," she said at a joint news conference with Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy in Berlin, according to Reuters. Negotiators representing the private-sector were due to meet with Greek government officials later Thursday to continue long-running negotiations. An agreement on details of a voluntary bond swap are a prerequisite for Greece to receive a second rescue package agreed to by European leaders last October. Without the funds, Greece is seen as likely to miss a large debt repayment in March.