Economy of the European Union

Greece's borrowing costs in a short-term debt sale have tumbled, days after the country returned to the international bond markets.

The interest rate on a 13-week treasury bill issued Tuesday fell to 2.45 percent, compared with 3.1 percent for a similar issue last month, according to the public debt management agency.

Foreign direct investment in Bulgaria for January - February 2014 increased by EUR 114.1M or 0.3% of GDP, according to Bulgaria's National Bank preliminary data.

Foreign direct investment in Bulgaria for February 2014 increased by EUR 41.3M, compared to an increase of EUR 152.5M for February 2013 which is a drastic decline of 72.9% on an annual basis.

Greece was one of the few markets in which yields rose on Monday, as investors booked profits on the strongest bond rally in the eurozone this year.

Ten-year yields added 16 basis points to hit a day’s high of 6.47 percent on Monday.

European Central Bank (ECB) funding to Greek banks fell further in March, according to figures released by the Bank of Greece on Monday.

Greece's central government posted a primary budget surplus, before interest payments, of 1.6 billion euros ($2.22 billion) in the first quarter, widening by more than three times from the same period last year, Deputy Finance Minister Christos Staikouras said on Monday.

In February 2014, seasonally adjusted industrial production rose by 0.2% in the Euro area and by 0.4% in the EU, according to estimates from Eurostat.

By John Geddie & Marius Zaharia

Greek bond yields rose on Friday as investors booked profits on the rally that preceded Greece's return to debt markets, with even its sought-after new five-year bond succumbing to selling pressure.

EU harmonized inflation in Germany has dropped to its lowest level in more than three years in March, 2014, final data from the Federal Statistical Office Destatis showed Friday.

David Goodman & Nikos Chrysoloras

Greece’s planned bond-market return, heralded by lawmakers as evidence of renewed confidence in the nation, will also highlight the progress that’s needed before its rehabilitation is complete.

By John Geddie

Greece's imminent return to bond markets just two years after a massive debt restructuring, expected as early as Wednesday, lifted investor appetite for riskier credits which has stalled over the last couple of days.