ATHENS, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- Greece auctioned a treasury bill issue on Wednesday, raising a total of 812.5 million euros (1.16 billion U.S. dollars) from the market, the Greek Public Debt Management Agency (PDMA) said.

The interest rate of the new issue of 26 week treasury bills was set at 0.85 percent, the same as the previous auction in July, according to a PDMA press statement.

Shut out of international markets since 2010, the debt-laden country runs a monthly treasury bill auction program to cover maturing debts and meet its financing needs, in parallel with the bailout program of international creditors.

Greece is expected to fully return to the markets soon, when the current third bailout program ends this month. (1 euro = 1.16 U.S. dollars)