TOKYO, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Japanese government bond
yields slipped on Friday after U.S. Treasury yields fell
overnight following remarks from Federal Reserve Governor
Christopher Waller indicating that multiple U.S. rate cuts were
possible this year
The two-year JGB yield fell 1 basis point to
0.68%. The five-year yield fell 0.5 bp to 0.86%.
The 10-year JGB yield was flat at 1.2%.
"Unless the Bank of Japan (BOJ) issues hawkish comments that
suggest further rate hike next week, the 10-year JGB yield will
stay around this level even as the central bank raises its
policy rate," said Yoshiro Sato, economist at Resona Holdings.
"The market has already priced in the BOJ's rate hike next
week."
Bets for the BOJ's rate hike have grown after the central
bank's top officials signalled the policy change this week. Swap
rates indicated a 78.89% chance for the BOJ to raise its policy
rate by 25 bps to 0.5% at its two-day meeting ending on Friday
next week.
U.S. Treasury yields slipped overnight following comments
from Waller who said three or four interest cuts this year are
still possible if U.S. economic data weakens further.
The yields on longer-ended notes fell deeper, with the
20-year JGB yield falling 2 bps to 1.91% and the
30-year JGB yield declining 4 bps to 2.28%.
The 40-year JGB yield fell 3.5 bps to
2.735%.
(Reporting by Junko Fujita; Editing by Mrigank Dhaniwala)