• Italy has come to the bond markets’ spotlight due to high level of debt combined with weak growth prospects. • Successful execution of the fiscal consolidation program is required to lower borrowing costs and put debt dynamics on a sustainable path. • Successful implementation of structural reforms would boost the country’s long term potential economic output and allow public debt to decline faster. • On the positive side, healthy private sector balance sheets imply that there is potential to fund the public sector. • Italian banks are vulnerable to sovereign risk due high exposure to government bonds. However, the banking sector fundamentals remain solid.