-->Treasuries Run Up on Fed Inflation Remark
Fri Dec 26, 2:22 PM ET Add Business - Reuters to My Yahoo!
By Ros Krasny
CHICAGO (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury prices rose on Friday, boosted by comments from Dallas Fed President Robert McTeer that suggested the central bank would not raise rates for quite some time.
Speaking on CNNfn, McTeer said that U.S. inflation was still dormant and until it became a clear danger the Fed could maintain its current loose monetary policy.
Asked what the Fed meant by its commitment to keeping policy accommodative for a"considerable period," McTeer said:"When conditions change such that inflation looks to be a clear and present danger, then the considerable time is up."
The U.S. has enjoyed strong economic growth in the second half of 2003, but inflation is near-dormant. In November, the core inflation rate posted its first decline since December 1982.
Two-year Treasury notes, the most sensitive to views on Fed rate policy, rose 3/32 to yield 1.81 percent,
Fed funds futures cut the odds of a rate increase in July to 82 percent from 94 percent on Wednesday, but still fully factor in a Fed move by the end of August.
A"safety bid" continued in bonds, fueled by heightened fears of an attack on the United States and news that the U.S. Agriculture Department quarantined a second herd of cattle in Washington state as part of its investigation of the first case of U.S. mad cow disease.
Also boosting bond prices were concerns about a lackluster end to the holiday shopping season.
Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, said on Friday that December sales are likely to reach only the low end of its forecast.
Consumer spending plays a major role in the U.S. gross domestic product, and some wonder whether many Americans have simply become tapped out.
Trading was predictably quiet, with many dealers taking an extended Christmas break and trading accounts already"put to bed" for 2003.
The only data release was the weekly index from the Economic Cycle Research Index, which eased to 130.5 in the week ended Dec 19 from 131.2.
The growth rate reported by ECRI fell to a five-month low of 10.4 percent from 11.3 percent but is high enough to suggest that"we are going to see a fairly prosperous new year," said Anirvan Banerji, ECRI's research director.
The benchmark 10-year note rose 9/32 for a yield of 4.15 percent, down from 4.19 percent late Wednesday. The 4.27 percent to 4.29 percent range is expected to provide resistance, with 4.11 percent the downside target.
The 30-year bond rose 7/32 for a yield of 4.97 percent, down from 4.98 percent.
Five-year notes rose 6/32 to yield 3.15 percent.
At the Chicago Board of Trade, March 10-year note futures posted their highest week close since mid-July.
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