Dow Recoups Early Morning Losses, Bonds and Dollar Viewed

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USA - Business - Dow Jones Sign
16 Mar 2006, South Brunswick, New Jersey, USA --- The Dow Jones logo at the New Jersey offices of Dow Jones & Company, which publishes The Wall Street Journal. --- Image by © Najlah Feanny/Corbis

The Dow Jones Industrial Average had a very volatile trading session today. After opening deep in the red on the back of the global bond sell off, the equity index was able to recoup most of its losses and close near the day’s high and was seen as a huge positive. The dollar index came under selling pressure today, though traders continue to remain bullish about the long term trajectory of the dollar against all major currencies. Traders and investors would be closely watching at European bond yields over the next couple of days as many believe the movements in the bond market might dictate equity moves.

A key borrowing rate shot to fresh five month highs during the early hours trading session today as traders around the world continued to sell government bonds. The drop in price for the 10 year Treasury bond drove the yield for the bank to 2.35 percent, the highest level seen since late November. Many traders believe that the recent rout in the bond markets began in the European markets last month and has spilled into the US markets since then. Worried about the strength of the global economy has meant that investors and traders have jumped into the bond markets pushing prices up and yields lower.

US household debt levels continued to remain mostly unchanged in the first three months of the year as consumers continued to show reluctance towards borrowing heavily. According to a report released by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, total household debt ticked up by 0.2 percent to $11.85 trillion in the first quarter of the year. figures suggest that lenders high standards and consumer reluctance continue to weigh on the economy. Americans spent cautiously during the first quarter even though gas prices plunged during the same period.