Portugal sees nationwide strike over austerity (by MarketWatch)

FRANKFURT (MarketWatch) -- Public transport services across Portugal came to a halt Thursday amid a nationwide strike called by the country's largest confederation union, The Wall Street Journal reported. The action closed subway stations in central Lisbon, while buses ran a minimum service, the report said, citing CGTP, the nation's largest confederation union and strike organizer. The union said it would hold 38 demonstrations across the country Thursday afternoon, arguing that the nation can't take any further austerity under the 78 billion euro ($103 billion) bailout provided by the European Union and International Monetary Fund. The yield on 10-year Portuguese government bonds rose 0.02 percentage point to 12.75%, according to electronic trading platform Tradeweb. Yields rise as bond prices fall.