German finance minister Steinbrueck has floated a number of trial balloons in the last week to pressure domestic banks to begin lending again. Last week he said the Bundesbank may go around the banks and begin to lend direct to corporations. Over the weekend, there were rumblings that the government may take stakes in the banks in order to force them to open the vaults. Both balloons have been punctured, but it is clear Steinbrueck is trying to spook the banks into action for fear of having the heavy hand of government taking a more direct role in their business practices.