Ireland to raise between €6-10bn from markets this year

Ireland's National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) said Tuesday it will raise between 6 billion and 10 billion euros (about 8.16 billion-13.6 billion U.S. dollars) this year from the markets. In its business review for 2013, the NTMA said it will resume regular bond issuance this year. According to the agency, 7.5 billion euros were raised from markets last year in support of EU/IMF bailout exit. Set up in 1990, the NTMA is the agency that manages the government's assets and liabilities. On Tuesday, the agency raised 3.75 billion euros through the syndicated sale of a new benchmark treasury bond maturing in March 2024. The funds were raised at a yield of 3.543 percent. "The success of last year's two substantial bond sales confirmed Ireland's ability to access long-term bond markets at sustainable rates," said NTMA Chief Executive John Corrigan. "Having initially reengaged with the short-term debt markets in 2012 followed by two medium and long-term syndications in 2013 and another one today, the final phase in market normalization will involve a series of bond auctions," he said. The NTMA maintained its intensive investor relations program through 2012, helping pave the way for Ireland's return to the bond markets in early 2013. In January 2013, the NTMA issued 2.5 billion euros of the existing 5-year benchmark bond at a yield of 3.32 percent. In March, the NTMA sold 5 billion euros of a new 10-year benchmark bond at a yield of 4.15 percent, its first new 10-year benchmark issuance since January 2010, prior to Ireland's entry into the EU/IMF bailout program. Regular auctions of short-term treasury bills, which resumed in July 2012, continued through 2013 with eight auctions during the year. (1 U.S. dollar = 0.73 euros)