JGBs remain mixed despite surge in global risk sentiments following fresh round of U.S.-China talks; Q4’18 GDP eyed

The Japanese government bonds remained mixed towards the end of Asian session Monday, despite a surge in global risk sentiments after a fresh round of trade talks started between the United States and China, thus pushing global stock prices higher.

Also, investors will now be closely eyeing Japan’s gross domestic product (GDP) for the fourth quarter of this year, scheduled to be released on February 13 by 23:50GMT.

The yield on the benchmark 10-year JGB note, which moves inversely to its price, slipped 1-1/2 basis points to -0.013 percent, the yield on the long-term 30-year jumped nearly 2-1/2 basis points to 0.602 percent and the yield on short-term 2-year plunged 16 basis points to -0.160 percent by 05:30GMT.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer have arrived in China and are scheduled to meet China’s Vice Premier Liu He on Thursday and Friday to advance the trade accord, although whether U.S. President Trump is uncertain to join the table of talks.

According to a report from Reuters, "Yields on longer-dated Japanese government bonds pulled back from two-year lows on Tuesday after the Bank of Japan trimmed the amount of debt it offered to buy at a regular market operation."

The central bank offered to buy JPY180 billion worth of 10-25 year maturity bonds, at its latest bond-buying operation held early today, which was down from JPY200 billion last week.

Meanwhile, the Nikkei 225 index closed over 2.50 percent lower at 20,864.20, while at 05:00GMT, the FxWirePro's Hourly JPY Strength Index remained neutral at -15.55 (a reading above +75 indicates a bullish trend, while that below -75 a bearish trend). For more details, visit http://www.fxwirepro.com/currencyindex