Global Bond Binge Heats Up With Record Deal for Italy

The offering comes as Italy emerges as one of the market’s preferred sovereign borrowers.

Photographer: Alessia Pierdomenico/Bloomberg

Italy and Portugal added to a record-breaking week for global bond sales, with big government debt deals on Thursday alongside another heavy slate of corporate and financial offerings.

Some 23 issuers are raising at least €51.8 billion ($60.4 billion) in Europe’s primary market, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. That follows Wednesday’s all-time high of more than €61 billion.