By Tom Westbrook
SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Bond yields drifted higher on Tuesday, while currencies and Asia’s stock markets steadied as investors waited on a raft of data to determine how deeply the U.S. can cut interest rates.
Ten-year Treasury yields were slightly higher at 3.919% and two-year yields rose a basis point to 3.935% as trade resumed in Asia following a U.S. holiday overnight.
Upbeat spending figures on Friday led markets to trim the chance of a half-point easing from the Federal Reserve. The U.S. ISM manufacturing survey due later in the day and particularly jobs data due on Friday will be crucial for the Fed’s decision.
MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan ticked 0.1% lower. Japan’s Nikkei rose 0.7% and S&P 500 futures were flat. The dollar has steadied along with U.S. yields as focus turns to Friday.
“It really boils down to Friday’s number,” said Raisah…
