Portugal's plan settles the nerves

Charting a recovery: Portuguese finance minister Fernando Teixeira dos Santos gives a graphic illustration of the intended impact of the government's stability and growth programmeThe trials and tribulations of the Greek economy have caused a few nervous glances to be cast in the direction of Portugal, with some observers worried that the country could face a similar debt crisis. However, the Portuguese government's late budget and four-year austerity programme have gone a long way to allaying such fears. Writer Peter Wise