The yield on US Treasury bonds rose slightly, while investors were waiting for the release of US data and were preparing for a long holiday weekend.
The yield on 10-year Treasury bonds rose by 1.6 basis points, reaching 1.474%, while the yield on 30-year bonds was 1.869% (+1.2 basis points). Bond markets will be closed tomorrow due to the Christmas holidays.
Market participants continued to analyze the news from South Africa that people infected with the Omicron strain were 80% less likely to be hospitalized compared to the Delta strain. Meanwhile, studies conducted in Scotland and England have confirmed the findings of South Africa.
As for the US data, at 13:30 GMT, a report on the number of initial applications for unemployment benefits, as well as data on personal expenses and income for November will be released. Economists expect that the number of initial applications for unemployment benefits amounted to 205 thousand compared to 206 thousand a week earlier, while personal expenses and personal income increased by 0.6% and 0.4%, respectively. Also at 13:30 GMT, the US will announce a change in orders for durable goods for November (forecast: +1.6%, October: -0.5%).
Meanwhile, at 15:00 GMT, the US will publish the consumer sentiment index for December and the report on new home sales for November. According to the forecast, the consumer sentiment index rose to 70.4 from 67.4 in November, and new home sales rose to 0.77 million from 0.745 million in October.