TOKYO, June 23 (Reuters) - Japanese government bond (JGB)
yields edged higher on Tuesday, in line with overnight moves in
U.S. Treasuries, amid speculation that the Bank of Japan may
accelerate the pace of rate hikes to address yen weakness.
Here are a few details:
* The two-year yield, the one most sensitive
to Bank of Japan policy rates, increased 0.5 basis points (bps)
to 1.41%. The five-year yield rose 0.5 bps to
1.91%. Yields move inversely to bond prices.
* The benchmark 10-year JGB yield was flat
after rising 1 bp to 2.680% earlier in the session.
* Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama held an online
meeting with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent late on
Monday. The meeting focused on policy responses to the
historically weak yen, potentially including currency
intervention, Japanese broadcaster TBS reported earlier in the
day, citing people familiar with the matter.
* "Given Bessent's track record of helping create the
conditions for BOJ rate hikes, the meeting could prompt bond
market speculation that the BOJ may accelerate the pace of rate
increases to stem yen weakness," Keisuke Tsuruta, senior bond
strategist at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities, said in
a note.
* Overnight, U.S. Treasury yields rose as traders positioned
for a more hawkish Federal Reserve and the prospect of rate
hikes later this year, with interest-rate-sensitive 2-year
yields touching a 16-month high.
* The finance ministry is set to auction about 2.5 trillion
yen ($15.47 billion) of 5-year maturities later in the day.
* "With the dollar climbing into the mid-161 yen range, it
is entirely possible that the BOJ could send a more hawkish
message, such as signalling a faster pace of rate hikes. In that
case, medium-term bonds would likely come under upward pressure
on yields," said Lisa Mochizuki, analyst, SMBC Nikko Securities.
* "For the time being, there is likely to be little to
support buying, and we expect a weak auction result this time,"
she said.
($1 = 161.5900 yen)