Interest rates on short-term U.S. Treasury bills were mixed in auctions held on Monday with the rate on three-month bills up to the highest level in nearly five years.

The U.S. Treasury Department auctioned 18 billion dollars in three-month bills at a discount rate of 4.150 percent, up from 4. 070 percent last week. The rate was the highest since they averaged 4.200 percent on March 26, 2001.

Another 16 billion dollars were sold in six-month bills at a discount rate of 4.250 percent, down from 4.265 percent last week. The six-month interest rate was the lowest since the end of last year.

Source: Xinhua