Prices rise as tame inflation supports Fed policy

NEW YORK: US Treasuries prices gained on Friday on tame inflation data likely to help the Fed keep interest rates near zero, but supply pressures and worries about Washington’s budget fight kept prices lower for the week overall.

US consumer prices fell in November for the first time in six months, with the Labor Department’s Consumer Price Index off 0.3 percent on a sharp fall in gasoline prices.

“The crux of this report is simply that the inflationary backdrop remains very benign, providing the Fed with considerable breathing room to keep monetary policy accommodative,” said Millan Mulraine, a senior economist at TD Securities in New York.

The Federal Reserve said earlier this week it will weigh inflation expectations in deciding when or if to raise rates.

“Most of these forecasts, however, are heavily influenced by actual inflation,” said Chris Rupkey, chief financial economist at Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ in New York.

The subdued inflation data and the outlook for easy monetary policy supported the case for lower rates, and benchmark 10-year notes rose 8/32 in price to yield 1.704 percent, down from 1.73 percent late Thursday. Thirty-year bonds were 27/32 higher to yield 2.863 percent, down from 2.90 percent.

Nevertheless, benchmark yields have risen around eight basis points on the week on supply pressure and uncertainty about both the long-term implications of recent Fed moves and talks in Washington to avert abrupt fiscal tightening next year.

The Treasury sold $66 billion of US government debt this week and next week it will offer two-, five-and seven-year notes as well as five-year Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities.

Investors are also still mulling the Fed’s moves on Wednesday. The US central bank announced a new round of monetary stimulus and took the unprecedented step of indicating interest rates would remain near zero until unemployment falls to at least 6.5 percent and longer-term inflation projections remain below 2.5 percent.

Budget squabbles in Washington helped burnish US debt’s safe-haven appeal as well.

Talks between President Barack Obama and US House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner over avoiding an automatic package of steep tax hikes and budget cuts next year have apparently stalled. reuters

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