THE NEWS: Italy paid slightly higher interest rates to borrow money for 12 months, a sign of ongoing unease over the country's public finances.

THE NUMBERS: The company paid 2.76 percent, up from 2.69 percent last month, in an auction that raised €8 billion ($9.8 billion).

THE TOTAL: The Bank of Italy said the debt reached €1.972 trillion in June, up from €1.966 trillion the previous month.