[MARKET ANALYSIS] Fixed income benchmarks trade with mild gains, USTs await ISM Services

Global fixed benchmarks are mildly firmer this morning, taking leads from lower energy prices. Price action has been fairly lacklustre this morning, with the European session ultimately seeing sideways action.
USTs (+5 ticks) are firmer this morning and hold within a 109-17 to 109-24 range; currently holding towards the upper end of the day’s range. US-specific newsflow has been lacking this morning, but will likely pick up in the form of US Final PMIs and then the more closely watched ISM Services thereafter. On that front, the headline is expected to pare to 54.0 (prev. 54.5), prices paid at 69.0 (prev. 71.3), and new orders at 57.0 (prev. 57.3).
Bunds (+8 ticks) and Gilts (+5 ticks) both trade with mild gains, but with action ultimately non-committal. Both benchmarks are off their best levels and trading towards the mid-point of their respective 126.59-126.82 and 88.81-89.12 ranges.
For Europe specifically, the EZ Sentix Investor Confidence topped expectations (-3.1 vs exp. -14.5), though not all too surprising given the recently signed US-Iran MoU. Sentix stated that “The slump in sentiment caused by the Iran conflict is slowly being overcome. The German government's latest reform efforts are having an impact”. On the data front, EZ PPI Y/Y printed a touch above the expected, as did Retail Sales – no move was seen on the data.