ITALIAN INTERBANK RATE RISES IN FEBRUARY

  Italy's average interbank rate
  rose to a provisional 12.18 pct in February from 12.05 pct in
  January, figures from the Bank of Italy show.
      Weighted average rate on bank lending was a provisional
  13.78 pct in February compared with 13.83 in January, while
  average weighted rate paid on deposits eased a provisional 7.49
  pct from 7.66 pct.
      Italy today announced that its official discount rate would
  be cut to 11.5 pct from 12 pct effective tomorrow.
  

