FRANKFURT, Sept 23: The European Central Bank said on Tuesday it had allotted 180 billion euros (266 billion dollars) during regular refinancing operations that saw strong demand for the funds available. Tension on eurozone money markets has risen as the end of the third quarter nears and banks seek to balance their books and shore up their cash positions during some of the most turbulent markets on record. A total of 506 financial institutions seeking funds in the one-week euro facility bid at an average rate of 4.78 per cent.—AFP