At 8:40 am in Lisbon, 10-year interest rates fell to 3.035%, against 3.045% on Wednesday.

Five-year interest rates also fell, to 2.633%, against 2.641%.

Conversely, two-year interest rates rose to 2.858%, against 2.850%.

Interest rates in Spain, Greece, Ireland and Italy fell across all terms.

Interest rates on the 10-year German bond, considered the safest in Europe, also fell to 2.417%, against 2.422% on Wednesday.

Sovereign debt interest rates in Portugal, Greece, Ireland, Italy and Spain at 8:40 am:

2 years... 5 years...10 years

Portugal

16/05.......2,858...2,633.....3,035

15/05.......2,850...2,641.....3,045

Spain

16/05.......3,099...2,897.....3,185

15/05.......3,106...2,903.....3,192

Greece

16/05.......2,774...2,990.....3,416

15/05.......2,784...2,993.....3,418

Ireland

16/05.......2,915...2,637.....2,803

15/05.......2,924...2,646.....2,812

Italy

16/05.......3,362...3,291.....3,724

15/05.......3,374...3,300.....3,732

Source: Bloomberg 'Bid' values (interest rates required by investors to buy debt) compared with the close of the last session.

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