[MARKET ANALYSIS] Fixed income trade muted as USTs digest a strong claims report

• UST Futures oscillates in a tight 3-tick range as Treasuries consolidate from the strong US claims data on Thursday, which saw front-end yields lead the move, resulting in a bear flattening of the curve.
• Bund Futures holds above 128.30 after multiple failed attempts in Thursday’s session to hold below this price point.
• JGB Futures trade muted despite the hawkish report by Reuters, stating that the BoJ could hike rates as soon as April, earlier than market expectations.

The strong U.S. claims data has resulted in muted trading in UST futures as the market consolidates following a bear flattening of the curve. This suggests traders are cautious, weighing the implications of potentially higher interest rates from the Bank of Japan (BoJ), which could shift investor sentiment in fixed income, particularly in JGBs. The inability of Bund futures to break key support levels indicates ongoing market uncertainty and highlights the divergence in central bank policies across regions.