NEW YORK, July 17 (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury yields

briefly extended gains on Thursday after a batch of data showed

the world's largest economy remained on a stable footing,

supporting the Federal Reserve's patient stance on resuming its

monetary easing policy this year.

The benchmark 10-year yields were last little changed at

4.463%, slightly down from 4.477% before the data.

It rose as high as 4.495% immediately after the data's release.