RTRS:EURO GOVT-Bunds pause after recent sharp losses
Nov 22 (Reuters) - Bunds were steady on Thursday, consolidating recent losses on the back of perceived improvement in Greece's chances to secure a new aid tranche disbursement.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel induced some optimism in the market by saying an agreement to release aid to Athens was still possible next Monday when euro ministers meet, after Greece's international lenders failed to reach a deal on Wednesday.
At 0703 GMT, Bund futures were 1 tick higher at 142.18, having fallen by 83 ticks in the past two sessions.
"We haven't got major news overnight so we call Bunds unchanged ... (But) risk (assets) have got a good week, it's generally just a better tone," one trader said, adding he expected a Spanish debt auction to go smoothly.
Spain will sell 2.5-3.5 billion euros of three-, five- and nine-year bonds later on Thursday. The funds raised would begin covering financing needs for next year, which is expected to be challenging for the recession-hit country that many expect will eventually seek a bailout from its euro zone partners. (Reporting by Marius Zaharia/editing by Chris Pizzey, London MPG Desk, +44 (0)207 542-4441)
