The yield of US Treasury bonds shows a slight decline, while market participants are trying to assess the economic consequences of the spread of the Omicron coronavirus strain.
The yield on 10-year Treasury bonds fell by 0.9 basis points, reaching 1.472%, while the yield on 30-year bonds was 1.881% (-0.5 basis points).
The news from South Africa that people infected with the omicron coronavirus variant were 80% less likely to be hospitalized than those who infected other strains continues to have a positive impact on investor sentiment. The findings of South Africa have also been confirmed by studies in Scotland and England.
Meanwhile, data showed that on Monday global Covid-19 cases hit a daily record - more than 1.44 million cases of infection were detected. The previous record was set in December 2020. The seven-day moving average of cases is also at an all-time high (about 841,000) amid the spread of the Omicron strain. According to Johns Hopkins University, more than 52 million cases of coronavirus have been reported in the United States.
As for the US data, today at 14:00 GMT the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices for October will be published (forecast +18.5% per annum, September: +19.1% per annum), and at 15:00 GMT the Richmond Fed Manufacturing Index for December will be released.