il fatto saliente della giornata è la mega-asta di 2y t-note , il risultato alle 19
intrigante il nome della nuova giornalista della reuters, quasi quasi le mando una mail civetta
U.S. Treasuries flat before last 2-yr auction of '04
By Ana Nicolaci da Costa
LONDON, Dec 29 (Reuters) - U.S. Treasuries were broadly flat
on Wednesday ahead of the last two-year note auction of U.S.
government debt this year.
The U.S. Treasury sells $24 billion of two-year notes at
around 1800 GMT, but analysts expect little investor appetite
for the bonds just two days before the end of the year.
"The market is very quiet, not really moving at all. Yields
have moved a little bit higher in the days in which they have
been opened," said Jon Lee, international rate strategist at
Barclays Capital.
"In terms of the auction, because we've had a little bit of
a concession that will help to some extent but we are probably
likely to see more of a concession in the run up to the auction
given the general lack of liquidity."
At 0952 GMT, the two-year notes price was flat with a yield
of 3.077 percent <US2YT=RR>, little changed from New York's
close.
The 10-year note <US10YT=RR> was steady with a yield of
4.296 percent, little changed from Tuesday's close in New York.
Analysts said the dollar would be of little support to
Treasuries after it fell to a record low against the euro <EUR=>
for the fifth session running.
"(The dollar) is not going to help. It has weakened further
still. Oil prices are generally a bit softer at the moment,
again not likely to help very much," said Lee.
The bond market benefited from rising oil prices earlier
this year as high energy costs are seen as negative for economic
growth.
This session sees the release of the Weekly Mortgage Market
Index for the week ended December 24 at 1200 GMT.
U.S. existing home sales for November are out at 1500 GMT.
Economists in a Reuters survey forecast a median 6.75 million
annualized unit total versus 6.75 million annualized units in
the prior period.
Five-year yields <US5YT=RR> were at 3.66 percent and the
30-year debt yield <US30YT=RR> traded at 4.91 percent.
The March T-note future <TYH5> was at 2/32 lower at
111-15/32.
Treasuries outperformed Bunds, with the 10-year yield spread
narrowing 8 basis point to 66 basis points, having widened to
levels not seen since August 2000 on Tuesday. The greenback's
slide has recently encouraged investors to short Treasuries and
buy euro-denominated debt.
The 10-year dollar swap spread stood at 42.25 basis points,
compared with 42 basis points in the U.S. on Tuesday