Yields on Ireland's government bonds have fallen to record lows following a ratings upgrade, a stunning turnaround for a country that faced bankruptcy in 2010.
The payout on the benchmark 10-year bonds fell below 1.97 per cent Monday following last weekend's one-notch upgrade by Fitch. The agency now places an A- grade on Ireland's bonds, just like Standard & Poor's, which upgraded Ireland in June.
The improved credit profile reflects Ireland's bailout exit in 2013 and expectations the economy will grow more than 3 per cent this year.
Throughout Ireland's economic boom of 1994-2007, its 10-year bond yield never fell below 2 per cent. After its property market collapsed in 2008, the yield soared above 14 per cent as investors worried about default, and Ireland was forced to request an EU-IMF rescue loan.
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