Bonds 12/26/2006

Bonds
Americas
Treasuries Little Changed on Signs Holiday Sending was Less Than Expected U.S. Treasuries were little changed, paring earlier gains, amid signs holiday spending fell short of analysts' expectations.
Ecuador's Bonds Advance, Paring Losses From Tumble After Default Threat Ecuador's bonds rose, paring their biggest-ever decline of last week, as some investors doubted that President-elect Rafael Correa will make good on a threat to default on the country's $11 billion debt.
Treasury Bond Gains Diminish Amid Cooling Demand From China, Central Banks Treasury bond gains may diminish because of waning demand from central banks in China and oil- producing nations.
Bernanke, Trichet, Fukui May Fail King's `Boring' Test on Rates Next Year Bank of England Governor Mervyn King says interest rates should be so predictable that investors view policy-making as ``boring.'' On the evidence of economists' forecasts for 2007, the world's central bankers may fail his test.
Europe
Texas Pacific, Apax Partners Sell Bonds, Not Equity, for Buyout Dividends Buyout firms are turning to the bond market to extract a record amount of cash from the European companies they own.
European Bonds Decline for Third Consecutive Week on Interest-Rate Outlook European government bonds fell for a third week on speculation the region's central bank will raise interest rates at least twice next year to combat inflation.
Berlin Real Estate Market Turns Up as Foreign Investors Seize on Bargains Yngve Fredheim, a 60-year-old civil engineer from Norway, bought an apartment in Berlin's Prenzlauer Berg district last year for 300,000 euros ($385,000), or about 60 percent less than a comparable apartment back home in Oslo.
Tel Aviv Stock Exchange to Introduce Bond-Trading Index for 20 Securities The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange said it will start its first index for bond trading next year.
Asia
Japan's Bonds Rise; CPI Reports Fail to Boost Prospects for Higher Rates Japanese bonds climbed, sending 10- year yields to the lowest since March, after a report showed core consumer prices in Tokyo gained less than economists forecast, damping speculation interest rates will rise next month.
Indian Bonds Decline on Concern Shortage of Funds at Banks Will Spur Sales Indian government bonds dropped on concern the increasing dependence of lenders on the central bank for funds will prompt them to sell some of their debt holdings.
Thailand's Government Bonds Fall; Investors Demand Higher Yields at Sale Thailand's bonds fell as investors demanded higher yields at a government debt auction today after the central bank said it will maintain its currency controls on overseas investment.
China, Indonesia, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand: Asia Local Bond Preview The following events and economic reports may influence trading in Asian local-currency bonds today. Yields quoted are from the previous session.