U.S. Treasuries gain ahead of Q4 GDP, weekly initial jobless claims

The U.S. Treasuries gained during Thursday’s afternoon session ahead of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) for the fourth quarter of this year, due to be delivered today by 13:30GMT, in addition to the weekly initial jobless claims, also scheduled for today by 13:30GMT.

The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury yield slumped 2-1/2 basis points to 1.569 percent, the super-long 30-year bond yield lost 2 basis points to 2.032 percent and the yield on the short-term 2-year remained 1 basis point down at 1.407 percent by 11:45GMT.

Today will bring the first estimate of US Q4 GDP, which is expected to report a third consecutive quarter of growth close to 2 percent q/q annualised. Consumer spending growth is expected to be moderate, but residential construction growth is likely to have been strong, Daiwa Capital Markets reported.

While yesterday’s trade figures saw the deficit widen, it still suggested that net trade will have made a significant positive contribution, due principally to weak imports. Business investment, however, will likely have been weak again, while inventories probably made a large negative contribution to growth. The usual weekly jobless claims data are also due, the report added.

Meanwhile, the S&P 500 Futures remained -0.75 percent down at 3,248.38 by 11:50GMT.