US Treasury bond yields rose slightly, while investors assessed the latest US data and continue to monitor the development of the situation with the Omicron coronavirus strain.
The yield on 10-year Treasury bonds rose by 0.5 basis points, reaching 1.52%, while the yield on 30-year bonds was 1.932% (+0.7 basis points).
Data published yesterday by the US Department of Labor showed that the number of initial applications for unemployment benefits unexpectedly decreased last week - to 198,000 from 206,000 a week earlier. Economists had expected an increase to 208,000.
The investors also focused on the situation around Omicron coronavirus strain. According to data from Johns Hopkins University, the number of Covid cases has risen to an all-time high, with the average number of diseases in 7 days exceeding 265,000.
However, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the Chief Medical Advisor to President Biden, suggested that the number of coronavirus cases could peak in the United States by the end of January.