Submitted by Fox First at Ten on October 16th
MADRID (AP) - Spain has raised €4.9 billion ($6.4 billion) at slightly lower interest rates in a debt auction that saw strong demand as the country considers whether to request international help to manage its finances.
The Treasury sold €3.4 billion in 12-month bills at an average interest rate of 2.82 percent, down from 2.84 percent in the last such auction Sept. 18.
It sold €1.5 billion in 18-month bills at a rate of 3.02 percent, down from 3.04 percent.
The sale Tuesday was the first since credit rating agency Standard & Poor's last week cut its rating on Spain's debt by two notches to BBB-, just a step above junk status.
Demand was 2.78 times the amount offered in the shorter bills and 3.6 times for the longer bills.
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