Brussels, 23/07/2001 (Agence Europe) - Having reached a record level in the previous quarter, bond issuance in euro returned to more normal levels in the second quarter of this year, says the European Commission in its latest report devoted to the market. However, the overall offer of bonds labelled in euro remains strong. This reflects a continued flow of corporate and financial-sector borrowing amid unfavourable conditions for raising capital on the equity market. In the second quarter, issuance totalled 370 billion euro, against 440 billion in the previous quarter. Institutional issuers remain the main issuers in euro, but private issuers (financial companies and services) consolidated their position on the market. Finally, market opportunities for low-rated issuers from the corporate sector have expanded. The 26th report on the bonds market in euro (April-June 2001) may be consulted at the following address: http: //http://www.europe.eu.int/economy_finance/document/eurobond/eurobondidx_e ,.htm.