TOKYO: The yield on the benchmark 10-year Japanese government bonds briefly fell to 0.555 percent on Friday, its lowest level since May last year, as concerns about the US growth outlook drove down global bond yields.

The 10-year US Treasury debt yield hit a four-week low on Friday and the 10-year German Bunds yield hit a one-year low, after recent soft US data raised doubts about expectations of solid growth in the American economy.