Belgium aims for up to 2.5bn euros at debt auction

BRUSSELS: Belgium plans to raise up to 2.5 billion euros ($3.45 billion) at an auction of medium- and long-term debt on Monday, the country's debt agency said on Friday.

The AA-rated sovereign will auction the benchmark 3 percent September 2019 bond, the 2.25 percent June 2023 bond, as well as the non-benchmark 4 percent March 2018 bond.

The debt agency said last week that it planned to raise 44 billion euros ($59.4 bln) of long-term debt in 2013, more than the 40 billion it initially targeted.

With two auctions remaining, Belgium has already raised 38.81 billion euros or 97 percent of its initial target this year.