Australian bonds gain on weak investors’ sentiments; dovish RBA minutes still weigh

Australian bonds gained on Friday as investors moved into safe-haven buying following weakness in the riskier assets like equities and crude oil. Also, the Reserve Bank of Australia’s dovish November meeting minutes still remains supportive for the bonds prices.

The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note, which moves inversely to its price, fell 1-1/2 basis points to 2.505 percent, the yield on the long-term 30-year note dipped 2-1/2 basis points to 3.249 percent and the yield on short-term 2-year fell 1 basis point to 1.777 percent by 02:40 GMT.

Australian shares drifted lower to noon, with weakness across all sectors in the absence of a lead from Wall Street. At midday, the benchmark ASX200 index was down 0.3 percent at 5,968.3 points. The broader All Ordinaries index was down 0.295 percent at 6049.7 points.

The AUD/USD pair is trading in the red, courtesy of the dovish RBA minutes. Members of the Reserve Bank of Australia's Monetary Policy Board said that the outlook for the country's economy remained more or less on track, minutes from the bank's November 7 meeting revealed on Tuesday. The members acknowledged that gross domestic product has been slightly weaker than expected - and while not dramatically so, it's likely to head off any discussion of a rate hike in the near term.

Also, the members noted that any further appreciation of the Australian dollar would complicate matters, weighing on both economic growth and the inflation forecast. At the meeting, the RBA decided to maintain its benchmark interest rate at a record low 1.50 percent.

Meanwhile, the S&P/ASX 200 index traded 0.23 percent lower at 5,974.5 by 02:40 GMT, while at 03:00GMT, the FxWirePro's Hourly AUD Strength Index is neutral at -15.76 (a reading above +75 indicates a bullish trend, while that below -75 a bearish trend). For more details, visit http://www.fxwirepro.com/currencyindex

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