The bid-to-cover ratio on the five-year bond was 1.61, compared with 1.3 at the previous sale.

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Bid-to-cover ratio was 1.5 compared to 1.8 last month for a similar bond.

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The 10-year bond attracted bids worth 1.65 times the amount on offer, up from a so-called bid-to-cover ratio of 1.32 in January.

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The lower the bid-to- cover ratio, lower the investor demand.

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On a brighter note, other peripheral Eurozone debt issues this week went rather well, resulting in a healthy bid-to-cover ratio, with both Spanish and Italian bonds rallying a tad.

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