By Matt Tracy

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Investment-grade corporate borrowers tapped U.S. debt markets for nearly $70 billion so far this week, beating forecasts for the Labor Day-shortened first week of September as borrowing costs remain near record lows.

At least 54 borrowers sold more than $67 billion worth of paper this week as of Friday’s market open, according to market participants. This well outpaced forecasts heading into the week of roughly $60 billion.

Tuesday by far added the most to the week’s primary market tally, with 28 issuers selling $43.3 billion in bonds in what is historically the busiest day of the year for high-grade bond market deal-making.

The Tuesday deal frenzy ranked among the busiest post-Labor Day market opens ever for the high-grade primary market, according

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