A shoeshine reads a newspaper as he waits for customers in a street in Madrid, Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012. The number of people officially registered as unemployed in Spain has edged up toward 5 million as the country's recession shows few signs of abating and its struggling banks await crucial bailout cash, Spain's Labor Ministry said Tuesday. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

MADRID (AP) -- Spain has raised EUR4.2 billion ($5.5 billion) in debt auctions at mostly lower interest rates, indicating improving investor confidence as the government ponders tapping a European financial facility that could ease its high borrowing costs.

The Treasury sold EUR1.12 billion in benchmark 10-year bonds Wednesday at an average interest rate of 5.29 percent, down from 5.46 percent in the last such auction Oct. 18.

It paid 3.39 percent, down from 3.62 percent, to sell EUR2.12 billion in three-year bonds.

The department sold EUR1 billion in bonds maturing in 2019, but at a yield of 4.67 percent, up from 4.54 percent.

Demand averaged twice the amount offered.

Recession-hit Spain says it must know all the conditions before requesting an international aid program for its public finances.

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