Rankings in Europe's debt league are taking on a familiar shape. Sovereign debt markets place Germany and France in the top rankings, while Portugal and Ireland continue to play at the bottom.

Germany, paying an annual interest rate of only 2.6% to borrow money for ten years, tops the rankings among Europe's biggest economies. The German government pays almost three-quarters of a percentage point (to be precise, 70 basis points) less for its borrowings since the start of the year. It is followed by France, which pays only 3% for the money it borrows for ten years, and by Britain which pays out 3.4%.

Performing strongly in mid-table, traditionally debt-laden Italy pays 4% in interest rates, while Spain, supposedly the focus of debt concerns, still performs strongly and pays just above 4.45% in annual interest payments on money it borrows for ten years.

At the bottom of Europe's main sovereign debt table, Portugal pays a huge 5.7% to borrow money for ten years, while Ireland is second from bottom, paying out an annual interest rate of 5.5%, according to the sovereign interest market rates.

Greece, where, for the record, ten-year bonds were trading last week at 10.3%, has of course been effectively suspended from playing on the markets ever since tapping its bailout funds last month.

Grimly, Irish and Portuguese bonds continue to be perceived as the riskiest in the eurozone and are seen as the most likely to face a market crisis in the coming months.