Traders work on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange, Jan. 20, 2026.
Michael Nagle | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Treasury yields moved lower on Thursday as investors monitored developments in the Middle East and assessed more economic data.
Yields on 10-year U.S. Treasurys — the main benchmark for mortgages, auto loans and credit card debt — were more than 11 basis points lower at 5.032%.
The yield on the 2-year Treasury note, which more closely follows short-term Federal Reserve rate decisions, was more than 9 basis points lower at 4.725%. The yield on longer-dated 30-year U.S. Treasurys — which often moves on geopolitical developments — fell more than 8 basis points to 5.349%.
One basis point equals 0.01%, or 1/100th of 1%, and yields and prices move inversely to one another.
The slide in borrowing costs comes as investors assessed the latest initial jobless claims data, amid a broader risk-off sentiment in stock markets and rising Middle East tensions.
The number of people claiming unemployment benefits fell to 194,000 in the week ended Oct. 17, fewer than the expectation of 200,000 initial jobless claims expected by economists polled by Dow Jones.
Oil prices moved sharply higher on Thursday, with West Texas Intermediate futures edging closer to $100 a barrel in early trade, rising more than 2% at above $99 per barrel. Brent crude, the global price benchmark, increased more than 2% to above $111.
The moves followed a New York Times report, citing unnamed U.S. officials, that the U.S. and Israel are considering resuming strikes on Iran in a “short but intensive” operation following next month’s midterms elections.