Foreign holdings of US debt hit record in November

[January 17, 2013]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- Foreign demand for U.S. Treasury securities rose to a record level in November, further evidence that overseas investors remained confident in U.S. debt despite looming budget battles in Washington.

The Treasury Department says foreign holdings of U.S. Treasurys rose 0.6 percent in November from October to $5.56 trillion. It was the 11th consecutive monthly gain.

China, the top foreign holder, increased its portfolio by $200 million to $1.17 trillion. Japan, the second-largest holder, boosted its investments by $900 million to $1.13 trillion.

Demand kept rising even as Congress neared a deadline to raise its $16.4 trillion borrowing limit. The government reached its borrowing limit on Dec. 31, but began using bookkeeping maneuvers to keep operating. The Treasury is expected to exhaust those measures by mid-February to early March..

[Associated Press; By MARTIN CRUTSINGER]

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