March 22 (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury yields dipped on

Friday as traders renewed bets that the Federal Reserve would

begin cutting interest rates in June in the wake of a string of

corporate earnings reports that indicated some weakness in the

economy.

Yields on benchmark 10-year notes fell to

4.212%, down 5.9 basis points (bps) from their close of 4.271%

on Thursday. Yields had approached their February high of 4.354%

on Monday.

Two-year yields ticked down to 4.593%, declining

3.9 bps from their Thursday close of 4.632%.

The inversion in the yield curve between two-year and

10-year notes widened by 3.4 bps to minus 38.3.

Market expectations of a June start to at least three rate

cuts in 2024 were reinvigorated on Wednesday after Fed Chair

Jerome Powell told reporters that inflation's decline appeared

to be tracking the U.S. central bank's expectations.

Yields rose last week following strong inflation prints for

February, including consumer price index and producer price

index readings that exceeded forecasts.

The Fed held rates steady on Wednesday and indicated three

cuts in borrowing costs are still in sight this year. Powell

said despite recent inflation data coming in hotter than

expected, the numbers "haven't really changed the overall story,

which is that of inflation moving down gradually, on a somewhat

bumpy road."

A string of corporate earnings reports this week helped

strengthen some traders' convictions about the Fed's

rate-cutting path. Luxury apparel company Lululemon Athletica ( LULU )

and restaurant chain Olive Garden ( DRI ), owned by Darden

Restaurants ( DRI ), reported on Thursday slowing sales growth

in North America in the fourth quarter.

"Some of the reports that have come out from companies show

they're really seeing a lot of weakness with consumers on luxury

items and lower incomes," said Bryce Doty, senior portfolio

manager at Sit Investment Associates.

"We're seeing that across the board ... and so I think that

has to be partly fueling what's going on in Treasuries."

Traders in federal funds futures have increased their bets

that the Fed will cut rates in June to 74.8%, according to CME

Group's FedWatch tool.

Markets next week will mainly be focused on the release of

the personal consumption expenditures price index for February

and weekly initial jobless claims.