Thursday, December 15, 2011

Treasury sells 30-year bonds at a record-low yield

NEW YORK (AP) – High demand for U.S. government debt pushed the yield on the 30-year Treasury bond down to a record low Wednesday.


Worsening concerns about Europe's latest efforts to contain its debt crisis are keeping demand brisk for Treasury securities. The Treasury Department sold $13 billion worth of 30-year bonds at a record low yield of 2.925%.

Investors bid $3.05 for every dollar of bonds up for sale, much higher than the average of $2.81 over the past four auctions.

Nomura securities analysts said in a note to clients that investors had an "insatiable appetite" for Treasuries.

A spike in borrowing costs for Italy increased demand for Treasuries as worries about Europe's debt crisis worsened.

Markets have been growing skeptical that a fiscal pact announced last Friday by European leaders will be enough to ease strains on Europe's financial system and keep the euro intact.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 1.91 % from 1.96 % late Tuesday. The price rose 62.5 cents per $100 invested.

The yield on 30-year bonds already in circulation fell to 2.90% from 3%. The price jumped $2.28.

In other trading, the two-year Treasury note yielded 0.25%, unchanged from late Tuesday.

In T-bills, the yield on the three-month bill was flat at 0.01%. Its discount wasn't available.

usatoday.com

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