The 30-year yield was down 2 basis points at 0.470pc, its lowest level since November 2016, while the 20-year yield slipped 1.5 basis points to 0.305pc, its lowest since August 2016.

The benchmark 10-year yield fell 1.5 basis points to minus 0.090pc, a low not seen in 8-1/2 weeks.

June 10-year JGB futures were up 0.20 points at 153.09, their highest since April 2, with a trading volume of 29,874 lots by late afternoon trade.

On Tuesday, concerns about the US-China trade war and Italy's budget policy sent benchmark US Treasury yields to their lowest levels since September 2017.