Spanish treasury gets bond auction boost
Spain raised €4.3 billion ($5.5 billion) of medium and long-term bonds Thursday, more than it had targeted, at lower interest rates, despite market concerns over the financial crisis in Cyprus and the political stalemate in Italy.
The Treasury had expected to raise €3.0–4.0 billion via the bond auctions, and demand outstripped supply by over two to one.
The Treasury sold €589.9 million of five-year bonds at an average yield of 3.598 percent, down from 4.193 percent at the last similar auction held on March 15th, 2012, the Bank of Spain said in a statement.
It sold €660.5 million in eight-year bonds at an average yield of 4.477 percent, down from 5.517 percent from the last similar auction held on November 22nd.
The Treasury also raised €3.06 billion in three-year bonds at an average yield of 3.019 percent.
This auction was not comparable to previous sales of three-year-bonds since it had a fixed coupon of 3.3 percent instead of a coupon of 3.75 percent in the previous operations.
The risk premium or spread — the extra rate demanded by investors in Spanish 10-year bonds over the rate offered by equivalent German bonds — stood at 354 basis points shortly after the bond auction, down from 363 basis points when markets opened on Thursday.
Comments
See Also
The Treasury had expected to raise €3.0–4.0 billion via the bond auctions, and demand outstripped supply by over two to one.
The Treasury sold €589.9 million of five-year bonds at an average yield of 3.598 percent, down from 4.193 percent at the last similar auction held on March 15th, 2012, the Bank of Spain said in a statement.
It sold €660.5 million in eight-year bonds at an average yield of 4.477 percent, down from 5.517 percent from the last similar auction held on November 22nd.
The Treasury also raised €3.06 billion in three-year bonds at an average yield of 3.019 percent.
This auction was not comparable to previous sales of three-year-bonds since it had a fixed coupon of 3.3 percent instead of a coupon of 3.75 percent in the previous operations.
The risk premium or spread — the extra rate demanded by investors in Spanish 10-year bonds over the rate offered by equivalent German bonds — stood at 354 basis points shortly after the bond auction, down from 363 basis points when markets opened on Thursday.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.