Greece successfully conducted on Tuesday a new treasury bills auction, raising further 1.137 billion euros (1.49 billion U.S. dollars), the Public Debt Management Agency (PDMA) said.

The six-month bills auctioned were sold at an interest rate of 4.8, which was marginally lower than the 4.86 secured during the previous similar sale last month.

PDMA officials initially aimed to raise 875 million euros on Tuesday, but the demand was stronger once again and therefore they accepted more bids.

According to sources, the new sum raised could be used to cover part of a 14.5-billion-euro bond repayment which comes due on March 20.

Debt-laden Greece is expected to be able to repay the bond and avoid a chaotic default that could have a major impact on the eurozone and global economy with the fresh bailout aid of international lenders.

Greece is kept afloat with multi-billion euro loans granted by European Union counterparts and the International Monetary Fund since May 2010. In parallel, Greek officials run a monthly treasury bills sale program to raise some funds. (1 euro = 1.31 U.S. dollars)