LONDON: Five-year British government bond yields rose to a six-month high on Thursday, reflecting a global flight from bond markets that analysts have struggled to fully explain.

At 1139 GMT the five-year gilt yield hit its highest level since Nov. 12 at 1.559 percent, up around 9 basis points on the day.

It was last at 1.54 percent. Long-dated gilt prices also sustained heavy losses as euro zone government debt tumbled sharply, with 30-year yields up more than 11 basis points on the day at 2.67 percent.

Copyright Reuters, 2015