1.   Although the ministry does not announce bond auctions in advance, it usually makes such calls a day before an auction is held.

2.   An expected government bond auction and a spate of new issues also weighed on bonds.

3.   Bonds also fell on concern a pair of expected government bond auctions and a spate of new corporate issues could swamp investor demand for fixed-income securities.

4.   A Bundesbank spokesman said no date has been set as to when the consortium system of bond auctions will end.

5.   Adding to optimism for bonds was strong demand at a bond auction yesterday.

6.   All the markets showed a nervousness about the approaching bond auction.

7.   BRITISH gilts were little changed as declining U.S. bonds offset a successful Bank of England bond auction.

8.   British government bonds were little changed as investors awaited the outcome of bond auctions in the U.S. later today and the Bundesbank council meeting on Thursday.

9.   Concern about slowing profit growth on both sides of the Atlantic contributed to market malaise, offsetting cheer from a successful government bond auction Wednesday.

10.   Earlier today, the Bank of Italy held its zero coupon bond auctions and its Treasury bill auctions.