In terms of size, the Lithuanian debt market exceeded that of both its Baltic neighbours. Government securities dominate the market. Secondary market activity is mainly based on trading government bonds.
The Lithuanian government borrows in the domestic market through issuance of bonds (government securities with maturity of over one year) with maturity of 3, 5, 7 and 10 years, and Treasury bills (government securities with maturity of under one year) with maturity of 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months.
Domestic government securities comprise about 30 per cent of the debt on behalf of the state. Until the end of 2008, government securities were issued in the domestic market only through auctions. Until February 2009, in the domestic market of Lithuania government securities auctions were organized by the Bank of Lithuania, later on – AB NASDAQ OMX Vilnius.
