Interest rates on short-term T-bills were mixed.

The Treasury Department sold $7 billion in new three-month bills at an average discount rate of 5.86%, up from 5.84% last week. Another $7 billion was sold in new six-month bills at an average discount rate of 5.87%, down from 5.93% last week. The new discount rates understate the actual return to investors--6.03% for three-month bills and 6.13% for six-month bills.