Qatar is considering raising at least $9 billion from international bond markets to compensate for the economic embargo imposed on the country June 5 by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, Bloomberg reported Oct. 9. Qatar is expected to target investors outside the Middle East, including in the United States, Asia and Europe. Government officials and banks have not yet agreed on a scheduled time for a sale. Qatar's debt carries the fourth-highest investment grade at S&P Global Ratings, with the yield on Qatar's dollar bonds, due in 2026, rising five basis points to 3.51 percent on Oct. 9. The boycott has taken a toll on Qatar, and the country's gross domestic product is expected to grow at the slowest pace since 1995.