Record low interest rate for €1bn bond

The Government raised €1bn in a 10-year bond in its first scheduled auction in four years at a record low interest rate of 2.967%.

National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) chief executive John Corrigan said: “The completion of this auction marks Ireland’s full return to the markets for the first time since September 2010 and brings to a successful conclusion the NTMA’s programme for a phased return to the markets carried out over the past two years.

“The €1bn funding raised, together with the €3.75bn raised in the syndicated issue on January 7, amounts to almost 60% of our funding target of €8bn for the full year,” Mr Corrigan said.