Treasury yields gain after sticky inflation reading

Treasury yields moved higher on Wednesday as investors weighed a sticky February inflation report and monitored moves in oil prices in the midst of the latest developments in the U.S.-Iran war.

The benchmark 10-year Treasury yield rose more than 4 basis points to 4.177%. The 30-year Treasury bond yield added more than 3 basis points to 4.81%. The 2-year Treasury note yield also gained more than 4 basis points, reaching 3.613%.

One basis point is equal to 0.01%, and yields and prices move in opposite directions.

The consumer price index increased a seasonally adjusted 0.3% for the month, putting the 12-month inflation rate at 2.4%, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data released Wednesday. Both numbers matched the Dow Jones consensus forecast, and remained above the Federal Reserve’s inflation target of 2% to reach price stability.

“CPI printed in-line with consensus expectations for February, a ho-hum release that reflects the period before the escalation of military action in the Middle East that will lift inflation readings next month due to higher energy prices,” said Josh Jamner, senior investment strategy analyst at ClearBridge Investments.

The U.S.-Israel campaign against Iran began on Feb. 28, the last day of the month.

Oil prices rose again on Tuesday with West Texas Intermediate futures climbing 4% to around $87 per barrel. Brent crude also traded 4% higher, at $91 per barrel. But oil markets got some relief from the prospect of a major release of strategic petroleum reserves by Group of Seven nations as the conflict continues.

Other economic data due this week includes housing starts and weekly initial jobless claims on Thursday, and the personal consumption expenditures index — the Fed’s preferred gauge of inflation — on Friday.