Italian Finance Minister Carla Romagna has promised 'a stiff response' to market jitters over a possible default by her debt-laden country. Addressing parliament she vowed to take off an item of clothing each day the economy grew by 0.1 per cent.
Experts are now predicting the Italian economy might grow by as much as 3 per cent by next Tuesday.
The former exotic dancer is no stranger to nudity, but it is thought that Romagna's plan to go 'full-on fur-bearing' has provided the bounce traders were looking for.
Several other young female Italian politicians are now said to be considering lending similar support, with discussions coming down to the relative merits of either a hot tub, or a car wash.
Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is said to be firmly behind Ms Romagna, given half a chance.
Ms Romagna needs to accomplish her goal in the next few weeks, not only to avoid a default, but also because that's when her school holiday's end.
BBC business correspondent Richard Stark admitted, "I think at this stage it is very, very difficult for anyone to talk about this without using expressions like - pull it off, single-handedly or at a stroke - and then sniggering for about twenty minutes."
The Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) warned that while this was a step in the right direction, it is not a tactic for the whole of the Eurozone.
"Spain, yes," suggested Adam Clarke, an analyst with CEBR, "Greece, certainly and possibly France if they experience difficulties and things get hairy."
However, he went on to caution, "in our opinion it's not the right approach for Britain, and I'm thinking at this particular moment of Caroline Spelman."