(Updates with morning trading)
LONDON, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Euro zone bond yields moved
higher on Wednesday, as traders tried to process the
implications of a potential end to the U.S. government shutdown
and remarks from ECB policymaker Isabel Schnabel.
Benchmark German 10-year Bund yields were last
at 2.67%, up just over 1 basis point, but still shy of the
one-month peak of 2.699% hit earlier in the week.
Moves in European government bonds have been fairly limited
in the past few days, partly because there are few domestic
drivers with the European Central Bank firmly on hold.
Investors are assessing competing narratives in relation to
the U.S. government shutdown coming to an end.
"On the one hand, risk sentiment could improve further as
fears about the damage to the economy subside further with
federal employees about to rush back to work," said rates
analysts at Commerzbank in a note.
"On the other hand, eagerly awaited economic data will only
gradually be released, with risks probably biased towards data
indicating weaker labour market conditions."
Members of the House of Representatives will vote later on
Wednesday on a deal that would restore funding to government
agencies and end the 42-day-old shutdown.
Yields in both Europe and the U.S. ended Tuesday slightly
lower after U.S. private sector employment survey pointed to
weakness in the labour market.
Commerzbank said that "as the positive risk sentiment in
anticipation of an end to the shutdown should prevail today"
traders should be cautious with regard to longer-dated German
government bonds.
Traders were also watching remarks from the ECB Executive
Board member Isabel Schnabel. She said she sees the European
economy continuing to recover, and that this would prevent
disinflationary pressures from building.
On the supply front, the German government will auction some
2.5 billion euros ($2.92 billion) in 2046 and 2056 debt.
Thirty-year German bond yields also nudged
higher, up around 2 bps at 3.27%.
The French parliament will vote on a social security
financing bill later on Wednesday. French bond yields
, which have hit two-year highs this year due to
investor concern about the country's long-term finances, were
steady around 3.42%.
($1 = 0.8575 euros)