U.S. government debt prices rose on Thursday as investors digested the release of several pieces of data and a bond sale.
The Treasury Department auctioned $12 billion in 30-year bonds at a high yield of 2.47 percent on Thursday. The bid-to-cover ratio, an indicator of demand, was 2.44.
Indirect bidders, which include major central banks, were awarded 65.4 percent. Direct bidders, which include domestic money managers, bought 6.1 percent, below a recent average of 10 percent.
Prior to the auction, the yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note, which moves inversely to its price, sat lower at 1.74 percent, while the yield on the 30-year Treasury bond was also lower at 2.48 percent.
The Treasury's 30-year bonds sale was the third sale this week. On Wednesday, the department sold $20 billion in 10-year notes and $24 billion in three-year notes. Both sales saw around-average demand.
Treasurys
On the data front, jobless claims held at a 43-year low last week, while U.S. import prices rose less than expected. Export prices, meanwhile, rose 0.3 percent.
Thursday will also see Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker speak on the economic outlook at the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia.
In oil markets, Brent crude traded at $51.99 a barrel on Thursday, up slightly, while U.S. crude was around $50.34 a barrel, slightly higher, after breaking below the key $50 mark.