US corporate bonds close with slight changes

The US corporate bond market traded mostly unchanged in light volume amid an abbreviated trading session on Friday, while a weaker-than-expected jobs report triggered a sharp rally in Treasuries, traders said.
"Corporate bonds were not affected by today's data. We're ending pretty flat. The strongest impact was on the Treasury market," said one trader.
The Labour Department said on Friday non-farm payrolls rose 96,000 in September, well below forecasts of a 148,000 rise. August's outcome was revised down but that was matched by an upward revision to July jobs. The unemployment rate held at 5.4 percent as expected.
Treasury prices rose sharply as yields declined. The benchmark 10-year Treasury note climbed 29/32 in price, lowering yields to 4.13 percent from 4.25 percent late on Thursday.
Falling Treasury yields are expected to bolster the appetite for higher yielding asset classes, like corporate bonds, after investors return from the holiday weekend.
"Not only are we seeing rates go lower but we're seeing more steepening in the Treasury yield curve as the prospect of fewer and slower rate increases by the Fed is priced into the market," said Heidi Hu, head of fixed income at TransAmerica Investment Management.
High oil prices proved to be one of the driving forces in the corporate market, with their impact felt particularly on the bonds of several energy companies and auto producers. "Corporates have experienced a really strong rally this week, particularly in the energy sector," Hu said.
"Names like Amerada Hess and Kerr-McGee, some of the lower quality issues, have been particularly strong with oil in the $52 to $53 range," she added.
Energy companies Amerada Hess and Kerr-McGee are both rated "Ba1" by Moody's Investors Service and "BBB-" by Standard & Poor's.
Amerada Hess' 7.125 percent bonds due 2033 recently traded at 1.47 percentage point over Treasuries, about 0.18 percentage point tighter on the week, according to MarketAxess.
Higher oil prices helped drive yield spreads on Ford Motor Co's 7.45 percent bonds due 2031 out to 2.82 percentage points over Treasuries, about 0.04 wider on the day and 0.14 percentage point wider on the week, MarketAxess reported. Its finance arm Ford Motor Credit's 7 percent notes due 2013 remain 0.11 percentage points wider on the week.