U.S Treasury yields were higher on Wednesday as investors analyzed the state of the economy amidst a series of key data releases. At 3:30 a.m. ET, the yield on the 10-year Treasury had increased by over two basis points to 4.3571%. The 2-year Treasury yield was also up by more than two basis points, standing at 4.7931%. Yields and prices have an inverse relationship where one basis point equals 0.01%.
Earlier in the week, yields had fallen as investors reviewed the latest economic data. The Labor Department released figures on Tuesday indicating 8.059 million job vacancies in April, which was below the 8.4 million Dow Jones estimate. This marked the lowest level in over three years, raising optimism that the labor market may have eased enough for the Federal Reserve to consider cutting interest rates. The labor market’s condition plays a significant role in the central bank’s decision-making regarding monetary policy.
More important labor market data is set to be released on Friday, including nonfarm payrolls figures and the unemployment rate for May. This data will be crucial given the upcoming Fed meeting next week. While it is widely anticipated that interest rates will remain unchanged, investors will closely monitor policymakers’ statements regarding the future outlook for policy and the economy. This includes concerns about when interest rate cuts might begin and whether the Fed believes a recession can be avoided, as recent economic data has suggested a softening in the economy and labor market.
On Wednesday, additional key data releases are expected, including the ISM Purchasing Managers Index for the services sector and ADP’s private payrolls report. These reports will offer further insights into the state of the economy and could impact investor sentiment.