(Updates prices)
LONDON, June 19 (Reuters) - Euro zone government bond yields
rose on Friday as oil prices ticked higher after U.S.-Iran peace
negotiations in Switzerland were abruptly called off and as
European Central Bank policymakers talked tough on inflation.
Germany's 10-year bond yield, the benchmark for
the bloc, rose 6 basis points to 2.987%, having fallen to a more
than two-month low of 2.915% on Wednesday. Bund yields were on
track to end the week little changed, with a dip of just 1 bp.
Oil prices inched into positive territory to trade
at $80 a barrel, above lows touched on Thursday after
Switzerland said U.S. talks with Iranian negotiators on a pact
to end the Middle East conflict would not take place on Friday.
Brent and U.S. crude prices have fallen sharply since the
U.S. and Iran reached a tentative agreement to end their war at
the weekend but doubts remain about the longevity of the deal,
which faces opposition from some U.S. Republicans and many in
Israel.
ECB policymaker Pierre Wunsch told Reuters that the central
bank may raise interest rates one more time as soon as next
month if it sees more evidence of euro zone inflation spreading
beyond energy, even with the interim peace deal in place.
Wunsch's comments followed remarks by ECB chief economist
Philip Lane that the euro zone's economy may now be able to
withstand slightly higher interest rates without losing steam.
The comments added to the upward pressure on yields, with
Germany's 2-year bond yield up 4 bps at 2.64%.
Short-dated yields, which are more sensitive to ECB rate
expectations, have fallen less than their longer-dated peers as
traders continue to fully price in another rate hike this year,
after last Thursday's 25 bps increase to 2.25%.
"Despite oil marking its lowest price since the beginning of
March, money markets continue to firmly price in another hike
from the ECB to be delivered in September or October," said
Benjamin Schroeder, senior rates strategist at ING.
"Uncertainty on the geopolitical front remains, and the ECB
might be reluctant to change its direction having just delivered
a rate hike," he said.
"Sticking to more hawkish communication also ensures that
higher market rates will continue to do their part in containing
inflation."
Italy's 10-year yield rose 7 bps to 3.71%, up
from Wednesday's three-month low of 3.619%.