NEW YORK: US Treasury yields were mixed on Tuesday in thin volume, with those on the long end of the curve falling for a third straight session, as investors looked to next week's Federal Reserve meeting for clues on the timing of its first interest rate hike since December 2018.
US 10-year, 20-year, and 30-year Treasury yields all fell to one-week lows.
A strong US 2-year note auction, meanwhile, did little to drum up bids for the short end of the curve, as prices stayed lower. The auction posted a high yield of 0.481pc, lower than the expected rate at the bid deadline, suggesting investors accepted a lower premium for the note.
The bid-to-cover ratio, a gauge of demand, was 2.69, compared with an average of 2.50.
A batch of better-than-expected US data lifted short-dated note yields, flattening the curve, as investors priced in rate hikes by the Fed sooner rather than later. The spread between US 5-year notes and 30-year bonds narrowed to 86.9 basis points.
US yields extend rise after soft 20-year auction; curve steepens for 2nd day
Tuesday's data showed US consumer confidence unexpectedly rose in October as concerns about high inflation were offset by improving labor market prospects. US new home sales also surged, up 14pc in September.
"I think what is going on is that rate hike fears are being priced on the US front-end at an accelerated pace," said Steve Feiss, managing director, fixed income, at broker-dealer Etico Partners.
Further fanning earlier-than-expected Fed rate hikes is the surge in US inflation.
The US 5-year inflation breakeven rate, which reflects inflation expectations over the next five years, hit another milestone on Tuesday, rising to 2.985pc, the highest since at least January 2004.
The 10-year breakeven rate also hit a milestone, climbing to 2.695pc, its highest since May 2006.
Fed funds futures are pricing in a 70pc chance of a June rate hike on Tuesday, even though the US central bank's taper of asset purchases, if it begins in November, could end in June as well.
Overall, rates futures traders are also betting on two rate hikes next year, the second one being in December. In afternoon US trading, the benchmark US 10-year yield was down nearly 2 basis points at 1.6185pc.
The US 5-year yield, which reflects Fed tightening, was up half a basis point at 1.1828pc. It touched an eight-month high of 1.193pc last week.
US 30-year yields fell 3 basis points at 2.0506pc.
Jim Vogel, senior rates strategist at FHN Financial, said volume was thin for a third straight session on Tuesday, adding that the longer this runs, "the direction of the next sizeable move will grow in technical importance."
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