U.S. government debt prices climbed on Thursday as investors digested U.S. data as well as the minutes from the last Federal Reserve meeting.
The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note fell to 1.765 percent, while the yield on the 30-year Treasury bond was also lower, at 2.628 percent. were slightly lower at 0.726 percent.
The Fed minutes were released on Wednesday and signaled that its members see risks increasing. Most U.S. central bank officials were still looking to raise rates and even discussed whether a rate hike could be appropriate in January.
After a discussion, they said tighter financial conditions could be the equivalent of further increases.
Treasurys
In oil markets Thursday, Brent crude traded at $34.17 a barrel, 1 percent lower, while U.S. crude was at $30.58 a barrel, down 0.3 percent.
U.S. stocks were trading slightly lower for the day.
On the data front, initial jobless claims fell by 7,000 to a seasonably adjusted 262,000, the lowest reading since November.
"I continue to believe that while the level of claims has likely bottomed (the low in this cycle in the 4 week average was back in October), the tightening labor market (outside of energy and manufacturing) has employers holding on close to their employees," Peter Boockvar, chief market analyst at The Lindsey Group, said in a note.
The Philly Fed survey reading came in at -2.8, while economists were expecting a -4.0 reading. Leading indicators for January fell 0.2 percent, in line with expectations.
— CNBC's Patti Domm contributed to this report