MW: Treasurys fall sligthly after jobless claims, housing data
Treasurys fell slightly early on Thursday, sending yields higher, after data showing jobless claims fell to their lowest levels since January somewhat offset a bigger than expected drop in housing starts in March. Yields on benchmark 10-year Treasurys ) were up 3 basis points at 2.797%. Ahead of the data, yields stood at 2.790%. First-time claims for state unemployment benefits fell to their lowest level since the end of January in the latest week, even as continuing jobless claims remained at a record high. Separately, housing starts fell to 10.8% in March to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 510,000 from 572,000 in February. It's the second-lowest rate since the 1940s. January's 488,000 pace remains the post-war low. It was much weaker than the 550,000 annual rate expected by economists surveyed by MarketWatch.
