JGB prices slip as crude oil spike fans inflation worries

By Kevin Buckland

TOKYO, June 23 (Reuters) - Japanese government bond (JGB) prices slid on Monday, as concerns about the inflationary impact of higher oil prices reduced the appeal of coupon-bearing debt.

Those worries overpowered demand for JGBs as a safe haven, despite the nervous wait in the markets for Iran's response to U.S. bomb strikes on its nuclear facilities during the weekend.

The 10-year JGB yield JP10YTN=JBTC rose 2.5 basis points (bps) to 1.42%, while benchmark 10-year JGB futures 2JGBv1 fell 0.26 yen to 139.17 yen. Bond yields rise when prices fall.

The five-year yield JP5YTN=JBTC jumped 3 bps to 0.98% and the two-year yield JP2YTN=JBTC added 1.5 bps to 0.735%.

The 20-year JGB yield JP20YTN=JBTC, however, was flat at 2.355%, and earlier edged down to 2.34% for the first time in almost two weeks, ahead of an auction of the securities on Tuesday.

Mizuho analyst Gen Taniguchi said in a research note that the 20-year bond sale could see demand due to the more muted sensitivity to oil prices in the longer tenors, and a finance ministry plan to reduce issuance of the longest-dated JGBs to improve the supply-demand balance.

The 30-year JP30YTN=JBTC and 40-year JP40YTN=JBTC JGBs had not traded as of 0328 GMT.