Top German court allows ESM ratification (by William L. Watts)
FRANKFURT (MarketWatch) -- Germany's Federal Constitutional Court on Wednesday rejected calls to block the ratification of Europe's 500 billion euro ($643.7 billion) permanent rescue fund, the European Stability Mechanism, and the fiscal pact. As expected, the judges attached various conditions to the ESM, saying a total cap on Germany's liabilities under the ESM must be capped for the measure to conform with the country's Basic Law, or constitution.