Mexican state oil company Pemex placed a bond of $2 billion in the international debt markets in line with operating and marketing measures unveiled in September to lower the company’s budget deficit for this year by about 38 percent, according to the company’s Oct. 16 news release. The bond, with a 10-year maturity period, yields an interest rate of about 6.5 percent for investors. In addition to supporting the company’s investment program and liquidating or refinancing debt to its favor, Pemex said the operation improves the company’s cash level through this year and ensures liquidity for the start of 2019. Investors who took part were largely from the U.S., Europe, Middle East, Asia, and Mexico, with the transaction having a demand of 5.9 times the amount placed, Pemex said.