Euro Zone Bond Yields Steady as Investors Eye Inflation Data

Euro zone bond yields showed little movement on Friday, with investors awaiting inflation data for the bloc. Soft German inflation data suggested potential for more European Central Bank rate cuts. The German 10-year bond yield dipped slightly, and Italian yields also fell, reflecting cautious market sentiment.

Euro zone bond yields remained largely unchanged on Friday, as investors awaited crucial inflation figures for the economic bloc. This comes after lower-than-expected German inflation data on Thursday heightened the likelihood of further interest rate reductions by the European Central Bank (ECB) this year.

The German 10-year bond yield, functioning as a benchmark for the euro zone, saw a slight decrease of 0.8 basis points to 2.28%. Meanwhile, the two-year bond yield, known for its sensitivity to interest rate changes, stayed relatively stable at 2.36%.

On Thursday, the two-year German yield had fallen to a three-week low of 2.33% after data revealed a sharper-than-anticipated decline in German inflation in August. Traders are now nearly fully pricing in a 25-basis-point rate cut by the ECB in September, with the probability of another cut in October rising to 60% following the recent German data. Italy's 10-year yield also decreased by 0.5 basis points to 3.66%, while the spread between Italian and German bunds stood at 138 basis points.

(With inputs from agencies.)