Brussels, 09/04/2014 (Agence Europe) - After four years away and an unprecedented austerity drive, Greece returned to the bond market on Wednesday 9 April when it emitted five-year bonds to raise €2.5 billion, announced the Greek Finance Ministry in a press release. In June 2010, the country was excluded from the medium- and long-term borrowing markets when it reached the brink of bankruptcy and was only able to issue short-term, low-value bonds. On Tuesday 8 April, Athens raised €1.3 billion in six-month gilts at 3.01%, well lower than a similar emission last month (3.6%). Wednesday's medium-term emission is expected to reduce the country's average borrowing cost. In recent weeks, the yield on ten-year Greek bonds has fallen to close to 6%, compared with the 40% it reached at the peak of the debt crisis. The return to the medium-term bond market on Wednesday coincided with a general strike called by trade unions in the private and public sectors to protest against the austerity measures forced on the country. (EL)