Update 3:10 PM - here is what Bloomberg says
The Italian government is making approaches to China with the aim of selling the cash-rich Asian country “significant” quantities of Italian bonds and investments in strategic companies, FT reports.
* China Investment Corp. Chairman Lou Jiwei was in Rome last week for discussions with Italian Finance Minister Giulio Tremonti and Italy’s Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, a government entity that has established an Italian Strategic Fund open to foreign investors, FT says, citing unidentified Italian officials
* Italian officials met China Investment Corp. and the country’s State Administration of Foreign Exchange, which manages most of China’s $3,200 trillion foreign exchange reserves, in Beijing two weeks ago, FT says
* Italy’s Head of Treasury, Vittorio Grilli, met Chinese investors in the Chinese capital in August, FT reports
* Further negotiations are likely to take place soon, FT says, citing unidentified Italian officials.