It has been a weak start for core.......>

EGB SUMMARY: It has been a weak start for core EGBs Tuesday, with periphery

instruments outperforming amid a busy day for issuance.

- Mar 19 Bund future is down 11 ticks at 165.48, with 10-Yr underperforming;

2-Yr yield up 0.7bps at -0.503%, 5-Yr up 1.1bps at -0.278%, 10-Yr up 1.3bps at

0.171%, 30-Yr up 0.9bps at 0.806%.

- BTPs weaker but outperforming Germany, Mar19 future down 13 ticks at 128.29

and 10-Yr yield up 1bps, but 10-Yr spread/Germany down 0.3bps at 257.7bps.

- 10-Yr OAT spread 0.4bps tighter, still hugging 40bps level (last 39.7bps).

- Spain and Portugal 10-Yr spreads down 0.2bps each; Greece down 0.9bps.

- Spain Feb Services PMI came in a little above expectations at 54.5 (MNI

Median: 54.0; Jan 54.7).

- Final Q4 Italy GDP reading worth watching at 0900GMT.

- On the issuance side, the highlight is Greece's syndication of new 10-Yr

benchmark Mar-29. BBG reports IPT in 4.125% area.

- Tuesday also sees Germany tap 0.10% BundEi Apr-26 while Austria re-opens 0.50%

RAGB Feb-29 and the 1.50% RAGB Feb-47.