Foreign investors buy net 5.2 bn euros in Italian govt bonds in April

MILAN: Foreign holdings of Italian government bonds increased by a net 5.2 billion euros ($5.8 billion) in April after rising by a little more than a billion euros the previous month, balance of payments data showed on Wednesday.

International investors have been reducing their exposure to Italy since an anti-austerity coalition took shape in May last year and formed a government in June, clashing with the European Union over plans to ramp up public spending and unwind past deficit-curbing reforms.