U.S. government debt prices ticked higher Friday morning amid political turmoil over Brexit and uncertainty surrounding the outcome of U.S.-China trade talks.
The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note was lower at 3.107 percent, while the yield on the 30-year Treasury bond was lower at 3.351 percent. Bond yields move inversely to prices.
In politics, market focus is largely attuned to Brexit developments, amid heightened fears the U.K. could soon crash out of the European Union without a divorce deal. The British pound suffered its biggest one-day loss against the euro since October 2016 on Thursday, as a flurry of resignations rocked the government of U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May.
Back home, investors continue to monitor developments in U.S.-China trade talks. On Thursday, a senior Trump administration official told Reuters that China’s written response to U.S. demands for trade reforms is unlikely to trigger a breakthrough at talks between President Donald Trump and Xi Jinping later this month.
A number of economic data are expected on Friday. Industrial production numbers are expected to be released at 9:15 a.m. ET, followed by a Quarterly Services Report at 10 a.m. ET, a Kansas City Fed Manufacturing Index at 11 a.m. ET and a Baker-Hughes Rig Count at 1:00 p.m. ET.
At 11:30 a.m. ET, Chicago Federal Reserve Bank President Charles Evans is due to speak about current economic conditions and monetary policy at a roundtable in Chicago.
No auctions are scheduled for Friday.
