MW: Treasurys extend gains after jobless claims rise
By Deborah Levine
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Treasurys were slightly higher early Thursday, extending gains after the government said initial jobless claims increased in the latest week. Ten-year note yield fell 5 basis points to 3.55%. Claims for first-time unemployment benefits rose 15,000 to 478,000 in the week ended Oct. 18, the Labor Department said. The four-week moving average of continuing claims, a measure favored by analysts because it smoothes out short-term events like hurricanes and strikes, rose to 3.68 million, the highest in five years. Treasury's gains may be limited before the Treasury Department says how much in two-year and five-year notes and five-year inflation-protected debt it will auction next week.
