German government bonds fell after opinion polls showed greater support for Greece’s pro-bailout political parties, damping demand for the safest European fixed- income assets.
The declines pushed 10-year yields up from within two basis points of a record low. Italy plans to sell as much as 3.5 billion euros ($4.4 billion) of zero-coupon notes maturing in May 2014. It will also auction inflation-linked bonds due in September 2016 and September 2017.
German 10-year yields rose three basis points, or 0.03 percentage point, to 1.40 percent at 7:22 a.m. London time. The rate ended last week at 1.37 percent, after falling to 1.351 percent on May 24, the least on record. The 1.75 percent security due in July 2022 slid 0.3, or 3 euros per 1,000-euro face amount, to 103.26.
WEF to focus on challenges
Leaders from the Middle East and North Africa in business, economics and politics will focus on the aftermath of the Arab Spring as they gather for the World Economic Forum in Jordan this weekend.
The Tadawul All-Share Index (TASI) reflecting an upward march throughout the week ended in the green territory at 7,363.13 poi
Dollar recovers from 2-week low vs yen, focus on Nikkei
The dollar recovered from two-week lows against the yen on Friday as a safety-bid for the Japanese currency ebbed after the Nikkei share average rebounded from the previous day's 7.3-percent plunge a