* July payrolls likely up by 80,000 jobs, Reuters poll shows
* Weekly jobless claims edge up; July layoffs at 2-year low
* Iran tells Gulf states infrastructure could be targeted
(Updated in New York afternoon time)
By Karen Brettell
NEW YORK, Aug 6 (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury yields increased
on Thursday as oil prices rose on concerns about U.S. and
Israeli access to the Strait of Hormuz and ahead of Friday's
highly anticipated July jobs report.
Oil prices rose by more than $3 a barrel on Thursday on news
that an Iranian parliament committee is reviewing a bill that
would ban U.S. and Israeli vessels from the Strait of Hormuz and
fine violators up to a fifth of the value of their cargo.
Iran has made a concerted diplomatic push with Gulf states,
telling them explicitly that it will hit their oil, power and
water plants unless they convince U.S. President Donald Trump to
end U.S. strikes on Iran and instead seek a negotiated end to
the war that began in February.
Treasury yields fell earlier this week on optimism that a
deal to reopen the strait would keep oil prices in check - a key
focus for markets given the risk that higher oil could reignite
already-elevated consumer price inflation.
"It's better that the strait is open than it is not. But the
longer that this back and forth goes on, the more I think it
weighs on inflation expectations, it'll weigh on growth," said
Will Compernolle, macro strategist at FHN Financial.
The 2-year note yield, which typically moves in
step with Federal Reserve interest rate expectations, rose 7.26
basis points to 4.252%.
The yield on benchmark U.S. 10-year notes rose
5.67 basis points to 4.674%.
The yield curve between 2- and 10-year notes
was at 42 basis points.
Traders are also waiting on July's payrolls report for
confirmation that the labor market remains strong.
Employers are expected to have added 80,000 jobs last month,
according to economists polled by Reuters, while the
unemployment rate is expected to hold steady at 4.2%.
With Fed policymakers still focused on elevated inflation,
the data may not move markets much either way.
"Even if there is a weak report tomorrow (Friday), people
will consider it noise for the time being because there are so
many other signs of strength and it doesn't seem to be guiding
the inflation trajectory or the Fed's policy path," Compernolle
said.
Fed funds futures traders are pricing in 59% odds of a rate
hike at the Federal Reserve's September meeting.
Data on Thursday showed that the number of Americans filing
claims for unemployment benefits increased slightly last week,
while layoffs dropped to a two-year low in July, consistent with
a stable labor market. Other data showed worker productivity
grew faster than expected in the second quarter, curbing gains
in labor costs.