Interest rates on short-term US Treasury bills increased to the highest
levels in more than three years in the auctions held on Monday.
The US Treasury Department auctioned 19 billion dollars in three-month bills
at a discount rate of 2.075 percent. The rate was up from 2.045 percent last
week and was the highest since the three-month bills averaged 2.170 percent on
October 22, 2001.
Another 19 billion dollars in six-month bills was auctioned at a discount
rate of 2.280 percent. The rate was also up from 2.260 percent last week and was
the highest since 2.325 percent on October 1, 2001.
The US Treasury Department announced on Monday that it was postponing its
regular auction of four-week bills because the US Congress has not yet raised
the limit ceiling on the national debt.
