ATHENS, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Greece may attempt a test return this week to bond markets for the first time after the summer of 2014, Greek media reported over the weekend, citing government sources.
Following the successful completion of the second review of its third bailout since 2010 in June, the Greek government considers issuing a bond as early as Monday or Tuesday to take advantage of the positive momentum, financial news portals "Capital" and "Sofokleous" reported.
Athens aims to raise at least 2 billion euros (2.29 billion U.S. dollars) by issuing 3-year or 5-year bonds, newspapers "Naftemporiki" (Shipping Trade News) and Kathimerini (Daily) reported on Saturday and Sunday.
The Left-led government's target is to secure a lower interest rate than the 4.9 percent Greece secured in 2014 when the previous conservative government had made a test return to capital markets, according to the reports.
Similar scenarios have been circulating in the Greek press since early July. Last week a government source, speaking to Greek national news agency AMNA, downplayed the prospect of an imminent return, stressing that Athens plans with patience its steps to return to markets in 2018, when the current bailout expires.
Central bank governer Yannis Stournaras has also publicly said that a swift return to bond markets should not be a top priority.
However, Greek media insisted this weekend, citing government sources, that a test return is a matter of a few days.
The government will most likely take the step now, before International Monetary Fund releases a report on the sustainability of the Greek debt later this July which is expected to be negative, "Capital" reported.
