Prospects for a rapid increase in IMF firepower to cope with the eurozone crisis have receded after the Japanese government and the Bundesbank set tough conditions before making contributions, reports the FT. On Tuesday Jun Azumi, Japanese finance minister, said that the EU needed to present a more convincing plan before Japan put more money into the IMF. Separately, hopes that eurozone leaders might increase the size of their own rescue fund in March were knocked when Angela Merkel, Germany chancellor, reportedly told lawmakers in a closed session she was sticking to her demand for a €500bn ceiling.  The Telegraph says there is concern the UK may have to contribute a further £30bn to eurozone rescue loans through the International Monetary Fund, matching the sorts of burdens shouldered by Germany, France and other EMU states, after an IMF publication said “European leaders agreed to make bilateral loans to the IMF of as much as €200bn — with €150bn contributed by eurozone members and €50bn from other members of the EU”.