Catalonia bows to Spanish authority as Rajoy's strategy prevails

Spanish stocks and bonds jumped on signs that normality is returning to the country's biggest regional economy

Spain took control of the Catalan government with little resistance, bringing the restless region back from the edge as grassroots supporters of the independence movement cried betrayal. 

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy emerged victorious, at least for now, over the Catalan rebels, who declared a breakaway republic on Friday but only after squandering the momentum they enjoyed since an illegal referendum on October 1. With Spain’s prosecutor pushing for charges of rebellion, ousted president Carles Puigdemont fled to Belgium, several newspapers reported, and La Sexta said he