Interest rates climb sharply after European leaders agree to nearly $1 trillion rescue plan Interest rates surged in the bond market Monday after European leaders and central banks around the world agreed to rescue measures to help stem growing debt problems in Europe. European Union leaders and the International Monetary Fund agreed to a nearly $1 trillion aid package that will help weak European countries like Greece that are facing mounting debt problems. The U.S. Federal Reserve is also making loans available to central banks in Europe that can then loan the money out to financial institutions in their countries. Central banks from England, Switzerland and Japan also said they would make money available as part of the swap program. The programs brought relief to investors that had been worried a Greek debt crisis could spread and further undermine the euro, which is used by 16 European countries. With the rescue package in place, investors dived back into riskier assets like stocks at the expense of safe investments like U.S. Treasury bonds. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note that matures in February 2020 rose to 3.55 percent in morning trading from 3.43 percent from late Friday. Its price fell 93.75 cents to $100.59375. Bond yields rise when their prices fall. The yield on the 10-year note is often used as a benchmark for setting interest rates on consumer loans and mortgages. Interest rates tumbled last week as traders retreated to safe investments like U.S. government bonds. The rise in rates and drop in Treasury prices also comes ahead of $78 billion in auctions this week for three-year and 10-year notes, as well as 30-year bonds. The government is selling $38 billion in three-year notes on Tuesday, $24 billion in 10-year notes on Wednesday and $16 billion in 30-year bonds on Thursday. Prices will often dip slightly just ahead of auctions to help ensure a better price and yield for the new bonds being sold. That could help push interest rates a bit higher throughout the week as well.

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