JGBs brush off weaker Treasuries and gain on post-auction relief

TOKYO: Japanese government bond prices strengthened on Friday with the market brushing off weaker US Treasuries and rose instead on lingering relief from a well-received debt auction.

A regular debt-buying operation by the Bank of Japan also supported JGBs.

The benchmark 10-year JGB yield dipped half a basis point to 0.305 percent. December 10-year futures climbed 0.09 point to 148.51.

The Ministry of Finance had sold 2.4 trillion yen ($19.7 billion) of 10-year JGBs on Thursday and the results underlined firm investor demand for longer-dated debt.

Prices of US Treasuries fell on Thursday, with 2-year yields hitting 4-1/2 year highs, on expectations that the Federal Reserve will hike rates in December.