Rate falls below zero for first time at 6-month bond auction

(ANSA) - Rome, October 28 - Interest rates on six-month Italian treasury bonds fell to below zero for the first time in an auction on Wednesday.
    The average yield fell to -0.005% from 0.023% at an equivalent sale in September, marking a new historic low after the zero interest rate registered in April. The treasury placed all of the six billion euros worth of bonds on offer. The spread between the 10-year BTP bond and the German equivalent, a key measure of investor confidence and of Italy's borrowing costs, remained steady at around 97 basis points after the auction. The yield on the 10-year BTP stood at 1.42%.