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Sold: NTMA sells €1 billion worth of Irish government debt

The yield of 2.967% is less than was previously expected.

IRELAND TODAY SOLD €1 billion worth of ten-year debt, with a recording-breaking low yield.

The ten-year bonds had been expected to sell with an interest rate of 3.018%. However, that figure was surpassed today, as the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA), sold the bonds for a total yield of 2.967%.

In total, there were bids of over €2.8 billion for the government debt, with the NTMA’s John Corrigan saying the sale represents a successful return to the markets for Ireland.

“The completion of today’s 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 €1 billion funding raised today, together with the €3.75 billion raised in the syndicated issue on January 7, amounts to almost 60 percent of our funding target of €8 billion for the full year.”

Previous high yield rates, which reached 15%, had precluded Ireland from borrowing from the markets, necessitating a Troika bailout. Seven per cent is seen as the upper amount a country should borrow at.

The restoration of Ireland’s credit rating by ratings agency Moody’s is seen as a major step on the road to recovery.

Read: Record breaker: Irish bond yields hit new floor

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19 Comments
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    Mute Perlum Sprite
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    Feb 25th 2020, 12:15 PM

    It’s time to act across the EU, here too especially. We can’t handle a pandemic. That much we know. It’s not tourist season, we can still act in time to reduce exposure while minimising hassle.

    Flights to and from affected areas should be cancelled for a few weeks.

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    Mute David Garland
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    Feb 25th 2020, 12:16 PM

    @Perlum Sprite: We handled the last pandemic in 2009 didn’t we?

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    Mute Connoroconner
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    Feb 25th 2020, 1:54 PM

    @David Garland: the mortality rate for that pandemic was between 0.1% and 0.7%. The mortality rate for this virus while not finally established is multiples of that, maybe 10 times higher. You’re comparing apples and oranges.

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    Mute David Garland
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    Feb 25th 2020, 3:00 PM

    @Connoroconner: Im not comparing anything.. I’m sure the Irish health service is well equipped to deal with whatever cases we’ll have. Plus if it does hit it will be outside our own flu season which means the hospitals will have a better chance to deal with it..

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    Mute Paraic
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    Feb 25th 2020, 4:18 PM

    @David Garland: Give it a rest. It seems that no matter how many times it’s pointed out to you that this not a flu and is many orders of magnitude worse than any flu in every way, you persist with making unfounded comparisons.

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    Mute David Garland
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    Feb 25th 2020, 5:14 PM

    @Paraic: What unfounded comparisons? 400,000 died in the last pandemic in 2009.. So far this virus/flu has killed less than 3,000. What don’t you understand about my figures?? They’re facts!

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    Mute Nioe
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    Feb 25th 2020, 12:28 PM

    Don’t worry about it. SF have promised to cure it if they get into government.

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    Mute Denis McClean
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    Feb 25th 2020, 12:41 PM

    @Nioe: How often do you dream of Mary Lou?

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    Mute G Row
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    Feb 25th 2020, 1:53 PM

    @Nioe: Harris has it sorted you’ll be fine.

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    Mute Rob
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    Feb 25th 2020, 12:51 PM

    They wont close EU borders as they are too worried about adverse effects on the economy. Money taking priority over people’s health again

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    Mute xDemo17
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    Feb 25th 2020, 12:08 PM

    Its nearly here :-\

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    Mute Diarmaid Mac Aonghusa
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    Feb 25th 2020, 12:13 PM

    @xDemo17: It doesn’t travel alpahabetically!

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    Mute Skybloo
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    Feb 25th 2020, 12:18 PM

    @Diarmaid Mac Aonghusa: That is funny lol

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    Mute aidan mccormack
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    Feb 25th 2020, 1:48 PM

    It would put the shites up ya. Has it only killed those with underlying health problems so far?

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    Mute Kieron Meehan
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    Feb 25th 2020, 7:43 PM

    It is probably the will of Allah

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    Mute Tom Purcell
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    Feb 25th 2020, 1:52 PM

    People really need to tone down the scare-mongering.

    The first case of Rubella in decades here is of far more serious concern

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