Foreign holdings of US Treasury debt up 1 percent

WASHINGTON — Foreign buyers of U.S. Treasury securities increased their holdings in September, suggesting many shrugged off budget battles in Washington to keep investing in U.S. debt.

The Treasury Department says total foreign holdings rose 1 percent September to $5.65 trillion. That follows a 0.03 percent gain in August.

Holdings had fallen from April through July, possibly reflecting concerns about rising interest rates. In September, holding were 1.2 percent below the record high of $5.72 trillion reached in March.

China, the largest foreign buyer of Treasury debt, boosted its holdings 2 percent in September to $1.29 trillion. Japan, the second-largest buyer, increased its holdings 2.5 percent to $1.18 trillion.

An impasse over the budget led to a 16-day partial shutdown of the federal government in October.