Spread closes up 7 on 197

(ANSA) - Rome, February 23 - The spread between Italian and German 10-year bond yields, a gauge of Italy's borrowing costs and of market confidence in the Italian economy, closed seven points up on 197 points Thursday with a yield of 2.2%.
    Earlier in the day it had edged above the 200-point mark.
    The lower the spread is, the better it is for the Italian economy and debt-servicing costs.
    The spread rose above 200 points recently on EU populist fears.
    It has been nudged upwards this week by a split in Italy's ruling centre-left Democratic Party.