Australian 10-year bond yields dive to over 5-month low abiding geopolitical uncertainties

The Australian 10-year government bond yields dived to over 5-month low Wednesday on rising global tensions and geopolitical uncertainties amid losses in riskier assets.

The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note, which moves inversely to its price, plunged 4-1/2 basis points to 2.45 percent, the yield on 15-year note also slumped 4-1/2 basis points to 2.85 percent and the yield on short-term 2-year traded nearly 4 basis points lower at 1.60 percent by 04:50 GMT.

Asian risk markets traded defensively this morning after broadening geopolitical concerns and disappointing US quarterly results weighed on investor sentiment overnight. Wall Street gave up some of Monday's gains as the S&P 500 posted its fourth decline in five sessions with a daily slippage of 0.29 percent. The Dow Jones and Nasdaq Composite fell 0.55 percent and 0.12 percent, respectively.

Treasuries benefited from geopolitical uncertainty as sabre rattling over the Korean peninsula and France's first round presidential vote this Sunday underpinned safe-haven demand, Nasdaq reported.

Meanwhile, the ASX 200 index traded 0.12 percent down at 5,782.50 by 04:30GMT, while at 04:00GMT, the FxWirePro's Hourly AUD Strength Index remained slightly bearish at -80.77 (a reading above +75 indicates a bullish trend, while that below -75 a bearish trend). For more details, visit http://www.fxwirepro.com/currencyindex