Japanese government bond (JGB) prices slipped on Monday after a rise in US Treasury yields took some of the steam out of the market's 3 1/2-month rally. Some traders speculated that foreigners, which have been steadily picking up Japanese government debt and have been net yen bond buyers since the start of 2005, may have begun unwinding their long positions and could push prices down further.
The market offered a muted reaction to revised data showing that Japan's gross domestic product rose 1.2 percent in January-March from the previous quarter, slightly less than initial estimates.
Some traders said that as the GDP deflator had improved slightly and inventories showed no sign of a strong build-up, the revised data confirmed Japan's economy remained on a moderate recovery path, which could hurt the market in the near future.
A downward revision in April industrial output figures to a rise of 1.9 percent from a 2.2 percent increase was brushed off by investors.
US Treasury prices retreated as investors saw little indication from Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan's congressional testimony last week that the Fed was about to stop raising interest rates.
The yield on 10-year Treasury notes rose back above 4 percent, up about 10 basis points from late last week. At 0639 GMT, the benchmark 10-year JGB yield was up 2.5 basis points at 1.240 percent, moving away from a 15-month low of 1.195 percent hit this month.
The five-year yield rose one basis point to 0.455 percent. It fell to a 22-month low of 0.405 percent earlier this month.
The 20-year yield rose 3.0 basis points to 1.890 percent, after dropping to a 14-month low of 1.855 percent late last week.
The benchmark September 10-year JGB futures contract shed 0.19 point to end the afternoon session at 140.55.
At the short end of the market, euroyen three-month interest rate futures for June 2006 expiry were down 0.005 at 99.830. They hit a contract high of 99.840 this month.
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