Europe's markets plunged...and the euro sank to a 6 month low of $1.3657...after the European Central Bank's chief economist Juergen Stark (above) abruptly resigned.
The ECB said the German was leaving "for personal reasons" but would stay until a successor is found.
Germany's BILD headlined: "Our most important euro banker throws in the towel."
There is widespread speculation he is leaving over conflicts within the ECB about its bond-buying program of large indebted eurozone nations like Italy and Spain, as well as troubled Ireland, Greece and Portugal.
Stark is exiting almost 3 years before his term expires in May 2014.