Bond yields edged higher on Thursday, as traders remain concerned after the country's services sector activity eased in March with slowest pace of output growth in six-months due to a slower expansion in new work, leading to weakest rate of hiring since last September.
In the global market, US Treasury yields rose on Wednesday to their highest in a week and a half, as hopes for a trade deal between China and the United States and a breakthrough for Brexit triggered a sell-off in the bond market. Furthermore, oil prices were mixed, with Brent edging higher towards the psychologically important $70 level after easing in the previous session on data showing a surprise build in US inventories.
Back home, the yields on new 10 year Government Stock were trading 5 basis points higher at 7.33% from its previous close of 7.27% on Wednesday.
The benchmark five-year interest rates were trading 8 basis points higher at 6.97% from its previous close of 6.89% on Wednesday.