U.S. Treasury yields were slightly higher on early Thursday’s trade as investors eyed a policy update from the European Central Bank and some upcoming U.S. economic data.
What are Treasurys doing?
The 10-year Treasury note rate TMUBMUSD10Y, 1.100% rose 1.1 basis points to 1.101%, while the 2-year note yield TMUBMUSD02Y, 0.133% held steady at 0.131%. The 30-year bond yield TMUBMUSD30Y, 1.859% was up 1.2 basis point to 1.854%.
What’s driving Treasurys?
The European Central Bank, as expected, made no changes to interest rates or its asset-buying program on Thursday. ECB President Christine Lagarde will now hold a press conference at 8:30 a.m. ET.
The 10-year German government bond yield TMBMKDE-10Y, -0.498% was up 1.3 basis points to negative 0.546%.
A slate of U.S. economic data in the morning will give a snapshot of the unemployment picture and housing market activity. Weekly jobless benefit claims and December housing starts are both due at 8:30 a.m. ET.
Investors have been sensitive to signs of a deteriorating labor market, after claims for unemployment benefits unexpectedly surged to 965,000 in the week ending in Jan. 9.
What did market participants say?
” Whether Lagarde remarks move the market is far from certain, but the point today is about conveying a message of cautious optimism without” sparking a strengthening of the euro and a steepening of European yield curves, said Kenneth Broux, an analyst at Société Générale.