US government bond yields down

Price on Eurozone government bonds were lower and yields rose after the European Central Bank left rates on hold at 3.75 percent for the time being but sent fairly clear signals that rates would rise again in June. Analysts took that clear indication as a hint that more rate hikes were likely after that. The two-year Schatz added 2 basis points to 4.111 percent, while the ten-year Bund was 2.7 basis points higher to a yield of 4.187 percent.

In the UK, yields on the two-year gilt added 1.9 basis points to 5.463 percent, while the ten-year gilt gained 2.4 basis points to yield 5.042 percent. Yields were also higher on Japanese government bonds, with the ten-year JGB 2.5 basis points higher to 1.675 percent.

Yields fell on US Treasury bonds on new data showing that unemployment claims rose by 19,000 to 342,000 in the week that ended April 7, when a decrease of 1,000 claims had been anticipated. The news overshadowed strong figures on import prices, sending two-year yields 1 basis point lower to 4.710 percent. Ten-year Treasury bonds dropped 1 basis point as well, to a yield of 4.722 percent.

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