Merkel's conservatives make big concessions to SPD in coalition deal

The SPD to get foreign, finance, labour ministries, CDU to get economy and defence ministries and Bavarian CSU to get interior ministry

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives and the Social Democrats (SPD) on Wednesday agreed to a coalition deal, taking Europe's economic powerhouse closer to a new government after months of uncertainty that unnerved allies and investors.

In a move likely to mean a shift in Germany's euro zone policy, media reported the SPD would take the finance ministry, a post held until recently by conservative Wolfgang Schaeuble, widely despised in struggling euro zone states during his eight-year tenure for his rigid focus on fiscal discipline.

SPD leader Martin Schulz said earlier this week that his party had ensured an agreement with