US Treasury yields rose on Wednesday, reversing sharp losses the previous session fuelled by the Italian political crisis, as financial markets stabilized after Italy sought to end its turmoil with a plan for a new government. US benchmark 10-year yields, which move inversely to prices, had posted their largest one-day drop in nearly two years on Tuesday, while those on two-year notes had their largest daily fall in more than nine years.
On a total return basis, the US Treasury market rose 0.93 percent on Tuesday, its largest daily gain in nearly seven years, according to the Bloomberg Barclay's Treasury Aggregate Index.
On Wednesday, US Treasury gains have been unwound, in line with moves in the European bond market. Prime Minister-designate Carlo Cottarelli said on Wednesday that possibilities had emerged "for the birth of a political government," and that financial market turmoil and other circumstances, "have caused me to wait for further developments."
"Italian contagion will continue to be a volatile component for the marketplace going forward," said Tom di Galoma, managing director at Seaport Global Holdings in New York. Italy sold 5.57 billion euros ($6.5 billion) in bonds, though narrowly missing the top of its targeted issuance range of 3.75 billion to 6.0 billion euros. The auction somewhat eased concerns about Italy's ability to finance itself.
Yields, meanwhile, pared gains after Wednesday's US data showing a slight miss in expectations with the private sector payrolls report and the second estimate for gross domestic product. In afternoon trading, US 10-year yields rose to 2.842 percent, from Tuesday's 2.768 percent. US 30-year yields were last at 3.014 percent, up from 2.967 percent late on Tuesday.
On the short-end of the curve, US 2-year yields were up at 2.415 percent, from Tuesday's 2.319 percent.