STILL CONCERNED: Germany's central bank, the Bundesbank, has again stressed its skepticism toward proposed purchases of government bonds by the European Central Bank, despite signs Chancellor Angela Merkel is open to the plans.

THE BACKGROUND: ECB President Mario Draghi said Aug. 2 that the bank might make such purchases to lower high interest yields faced by some governments, if those countries first applied for help from the eurozone's bailout fund.

WHY IT MATTERS: The Bundesbank has only one seat on the ECB's 23-member governing council, but has added clout because it enjoys considerable support among economists, legislators and the public in Germany.