JGBs gain, 30-year yield hits 3-month low as virus fears intensify

• Benchmark 10-year JGB futures rose 0.26 point to 152.59, climbing to their highest since early December.
• The 30-year JGB yield fell 3.5 basis points to 0.370pc, a trough last seen on Nov. 5.
• The current 40-year JGBs were untraded by mid-afternoon, ahead of an auction of 400 billion yen 40-year JGBs on Tuesday.

TOKYO: Japanese government bond prices gained on Monday, with the yield on 30-year bonds hitting its lowest level in nearly three months, on growing concerns about the new coronavirus that is starting to spread in China and other countries.

Benchmark 10-year JGB futures rose 0.26 point to 152.59, climbing to their highest since early December.

The yield on the benchmark 10-year cash JGBs dropped 2 basis points to minus 0.045pc, having briefly hit an eight-week low of minus 0.05pc.

The yield curve flattened as long-dated bonds with positive yields drew more bids, with the 20-year JGB yield falling 3 basis points to a two-month low of 0.235pc.

The 30-year JGB yield fell 3.5 basis points to 0.370pc, a trough last seen on Nov. 5.

The current 40-year JGBs were untraded by mid-afternoon, ahead of an auction of 400 billion yen 40-year JGBs on Tuesday.