U.S. Treasury prices fell as data showed job growth surged and services activity rebounded in January, likely undermining the Federal Reserve's attempts to slow the economy to bring inflation down. The 10-year U.S. yield jumped 13 basis points on Friday and was last at 3.56%, while the two-year yield, which usually moves in step with interest rate estimates jumped 21 basis points, settling at 4.34%. Non-farm payrolls surged by 517,000 jobs last month, sharply higher than a Reuters estimate of 185,000. The unemployment rate fell to 3.4% from December's 3.5%. The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) said on Friday its non-manufacturing PMI increased to 55.2 last month, above an estimated 50.4 reading, after dropping to 49.2 in December.
Meanwhile, oil prices fell as the strong jobs data raised
concerns about higher interest rates, while investors sought
more clarity on the imminent EU embargo on Russian refined
products.
Traders now await the Reserve Bank of India's monetary
policy decision due on Wednesday, when the central bank is
widely expected to hike the repo rate by 25 bps followed by a
prolonged pause.
It is unlikely that the central bank will not hike rate
beyond Wednesday's move, said Aneesh Srivastava, chief
investment officer of Star Health and Allied Insurance.
"We expect the RBI to hike repo rate by 25 bps next week,
followed by a similar action in April, as core inflation
pressures still exist."
KEY INDICATORS:
** Brent crude futures up 0.2% at $80.10 per barrel,
after easing 7.5% in previous week
** 10-year U.S. Treasury yield at 3.5580% and
two-year note at 4.3448%
(Reporting by Dharamraj Dhutia; Editing by Dhanya Ann Thoppil)