Jan 10 (Reuters) - Longer-dated U.S. Treasury yields
jumped to their highest levels since November 2023 on Friday
after data showed employers added 256,000 jobs in December, far
surpassing economists' expectations, while the unemployment rate
fell.
Employers were expected to have added 160,000 jobs during
the month. The unemployment rate dipped to 4.1%, below forecasts
for 4.2%.
"This report will fuel yields even higher. The labor market
is not showing any signs of weakening," said Peter Cardillo,
chief market economist at Spartan Capital Securities in New
York.
Benchmark 10-year Treasury yields reached 4.79%
while 30-year yields jumped to 5.005%, both the
highest since November 2023.
Interest rate sensitive two-year yields rose to
4.388%, the highest since July 2024. The yield curve between
two-year and 10-year notes flattened by around 1
basis point on the day to 41.8 basis points.
Traders are now betting the Federal Reserve will wait until
at least June to reduce its policy rate. Before the monthly jobs
report, traders had seen the Fed cutting as early as May with
about a 50% chance of a second rate cut before the end of the
year.