Slovenia issues eurozone's first bond since Greek deal

Slovenia raised 1.25 billion euros ($1.37 billon) in 10-year bonds, the first euro bond issued by a eurozone country since a bailout deal was reached with Greece, the government announced Wednesday.

The bonds, maturing in 2025, were sold on Tuesday with a 2.125-percent interest rate and at 98.883 percent of the nominal value, the finance ministry said in a statement.

"Slovenia successfully re-opened the European Sovereign primary market following a period of intense negotiations between Greece and international lenders that kept investors captive," the ministry said.

Demand for Slovenian sovereign bonds reached 2.6 billion euros, it added.

This was Slovenia's second bond issue after it raised in March 1.0 billion euros in 20-year bonds with a 1.553-percent yield, the lowest ever for Slovenia.

Slovenia, a former Yugoslav state that joined the eurozone in 2007, saw its economy starting to recover last year after narrowly avoiding a bailout in 2013.