HOLD-Euro zone bond yields edge lower, ECB rate cuts in view

Euro zone bond yields fell slightly on Thursday as European Central Bank policymakers lined up behind a rate cut in June and as the recent surge in oil prices showed signs of running out of steam. Germany's 10-year bond yield, the benchmark for the euro zone, fell 3.4 basis points to 2.44%.

Euro zone bond yields fell slightly on Thursday as European Central Bank policymakers lined up behind a rate cut in June and as the recent surge in oil prices showed signs of running out of steam. Germany's 10-year bond yield, the benchmark for the euro zone, fell 3.4 basis points to 2.44%. Yields move inversely to prices. The German 10-year yield slipped 1.5 basis points on Wednesday, but was still hovering near its highest level since late February, which it hit on Tuesday.

Italy's 10-year bond yield was lower by 6.4 basis points​ at 3.82%, and the gap between Italian and German bunds narrowed 2.4 basis points to 137 bps. The spread between U.S. 10-year Treasuries and German Bunds widened 0.7 basis points to 213 bps.

Germany's two-year bond yield, which is more sensitive to ECB rate expectations, was down 2.3 bps at 2.93%.

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