ARDAL: Slovakia Borrows Almost €600 million in February Government Bond Auction

Bratislava, 16 February (TASR) - Slovakia borrowed €593 million in the regular monthly government bond auction in February, with the average yield ranging from 2.8 percent p.a. to 3.6 percent p.a. and total demand from investors reaching €2.2 billion, the Debt and Liquidity Management Agency (ARDAL) announced on Monday. Slovakia obtained the highest sum (€200 million) from a sale of bonds with a maturity date in 2037. The average accepted yield on maturity stood at 3.64 percent p.a. Another auction of bonds maturing in 2036 brought in an additional €180 million, with the average accepted yield amounting to 3.40 percent p.a. ARDAL also sold bonds maturing in 2033 for €130 million at the average accepted yield of 3.06 percent. Finally, bonds with the shortest maturity, in 2031, were accepted at the lowest average yield of 2.78 percent, bringing €81 million into state coffers. A month ago, Slovakia sold government bonds worth €539 million in the first auction to take place this year, with the average yield ranging between 2.3 percent p.a. and 4.1 percent p.a., while total demand from investors reached €1.241 billion. In February, Slovakia issued a new tranche of 20-year government bonds in the form of a syndicated sale, i.e. via a group of banks. It sold bonds worth €2 billion with a coupon of 4.125 percent p.a., with total investor demand reaching €8.6 billion. ARDAL plans to issue new government bonds for €10 billion this year. In addition to regular monthly auctions, it plans to float two new sets of bonds via a syndicate sale and two new sets of bonds for the public. ko/df