Treasury Prices Fall In Thinly-traded Market

NEW YORK (AP) — Treasury prices fell Friday as a thinly-traded market digested stronger economic numbers from earlier in the week.

The price of the benchmark 10-year Treasury note fell 68.7 cents per $100 invested Friday. Its yield rose to 2.03 percent from 1.95 percent Thursday. Trading was light as markets closed at 2 p.m. ahead of the Christmas holiday. U.S. markets will be closed Monday.

Earlier in the week, economic data showed that the job market was on the mend and holiday sales for retailers remained strong. Treasurys tend to lose their appeal as a safe haven investment when there's positive economic news.

Traders shrugged off weaker economic numbers released Friday. Consumer spending and incomes rose just 0.1 percent in November, and a measure of business investment decreased for the second straight month.

The yield on the 30-year bond rose to 3.05 percent from 2.98 percent late Thursday. Its price fell $1.40 per $100.

In other trading, the yield on the two-year Treasury note edged up to 0.29 percent from to 0.27 percent. The three-month T-bill paid a yield 0.003, down from 0.01 percent. Its discount wasn't available.