* Treasuries rally in line with gilts
* Bonds briefly weaken on trade optimism
* Treasury to sell $41 bln five-year notes
By Karen Brettell
NEW YORK, Nov 26 (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury yields fell
alongside British government debt on Tuesday, while expectations
that the Federal Reserve will keep rates on hold kept the yield
curve near its flattest level in almost a month.
U.S. bonds and British gilts rallied after British polls
showed the ruling Conservatives as runaway favorites to win the
Dec. 12 election with a pledge to implement Brexit and halt
3-1/2 years of political uncertainty.
“As we’re getting closer to the (British) election there are
concerns about any spillover,” said Justin Lederer, an interest
rate strategist at Cantor Fitzgerald in New York.
Short-dated debt, meanwhile, has been supported by
expectations that the U.S. Fed will be on hold for the
intermediate term, after cutting rates three times this year.
“Front-end rates continue to be parked here given that
expectations are clear that the Fed’s going to be on hold,”
Lederer said.
Fed Chairman Jerome Powell on Monday said that Fed officials
have a favorable outlook for the U.S. economy founded on strong
consumer spending, which is bolstered by a robust job market,
increasing incomes and solid consumer confidence.
Benchmark 10-year note yields were last 1.741%,
down from 1.764% late Monday. The yield curve between two-year
and 10-year notes was 14 basis points, after
reaching 13 basis points on Monday, which was the flattest level
since Oct. 30.
Month- and year-end portfolio rebalancing was also seen as
supporting demand for U.S. bonds.
Treasury yields had risen overnight on fresh optimism that
the United States and China will reach a deal to deescalate
their trade war.
China's Vice Premier Liu He, U.S. Trade representative
Robert Lighthizer and U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin
held a phone call on issues related to a phase one trade
agreement on Tuesday, China's commerce ministry said.
The Treasury Department will sell $41 billion in five-year
notes on Tuesday, the second sale of $113 billion in
coupon-bearing supply this week.
The government sold $40 billion in two-year notes to solid
demand and will sell $32 billion in seven-year notes on
Wednesday.
November 26 Tuesday 9:22AM New York / 1422 GMT
Price Current Net Change
Yield % (bps)
Three-month bills 1.565 1.5931 -0.004
Six-month bills 1.575 1.614 -0.003
Two-year note 99-212/256 1.5879 -0.017
Three-year note 100-28/256 1.587 -0.016
Five-year note 99-134/256 1.6009 -0.015
Seven-year note 99-156/256 1.6849 -0.018
10-year note 100-20/256 1.7414 -0.023
30-year bond 104-64/256 2.1811 -0.026
DOLLAR SWAP SPREADS
Last (bps) Net
Change
(bps)
U.S. 2-year dollar swap 1.00 2.00
spread
U.S. 3-year dollar swap -3.50 0.75
spread
U.S. 5-year dollar swap -6.00 0.50
spread
U.S. 10-year dollar swap -8.75 1.00
spread
U.S. 30-year dollar swap -35.50 0.75
spread
(Editing by Kevin Liffey)
