Italy has paid slightly higher interest rates to raise €3.8 billion in bond sales amid political uncertainty.
The treasury paid a rate of 1.75% in today's sale of €2.8 billion in 12-month bonds, up from 1.68% at the last such auction last month.
It raised another €990m in the sale of 15-year and 5-year bonds.
Though demand was strong - more than double the amount offered for the longer-term bonds - Italy did not raise as much as it could have because of higher interest rates.
Centre-left leader Pier Luigi Bersani is holding consultations on forming a new government following elections last month that ended with no clear winner. He is expected to announce his results in coming days.
