FinMin Staikouras: Greece accessed markets successfully, despite adverse conditions

The total sum of capital raised from markets after its exit from the memoranda reaches 13.5 billion euros.

The bond with an interest rate of 2.05 pct "is a positive development," Staikouras said, "since the borrowing cost is equal to that of the July 2019 bond, when the financial conditions were much better. It is also much lower of the corresponding bond of February 2018, when the interest rate was 3.5 pct."

Additionally, he said, the majority of investors are foreign and institutional investors.

"Given these factors, the economic and political project was successful, and the confidence markets have in the government policy is confirmed," the Finance Minister said. "Greece has proven that it can be successful even in adversity."

13.5 bln euros
Greece successfully issued a seven-year syndicated bond loan raising 2.0 billion euros at an interest rate of 2.05 pct, with the total sum of capital raised from markets after its exit from the memoranda reaching 13.5 billion euros.

However, state bond prices and yields remained under pressure in the aftermath of the IMF's negative estimates for the Greek economy. The 10-year bond yield rose to 2.1 pct from 1.92 pct on Tuesday, the five-year bond yield edged up to 1.53 pct from 1.48 pct and the 15-year bond yield rose to 2.08 pct from 1.96 pct. The yield spread between the 10-year Greek and German benchmark bonds widened to 2.50 pct from 2.22 pct the previous day, with the German Bund yielding -0.47 pct. Turnover was a thin 9.0 million euros, all sell orders.