Ten-year notes and 30-year bonds were little changed on the week after the government sold a combined $27 billion of the securities in quarterly auctions. U.S. mortgage lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac posted bigger-than-expected losses this week, adding to speculation that the Treasury will have to sell more debt if it decides to provide the companies with capital. Traders now see a 33 percent chance that U.S. policy makers will raise interest rates by year-end, compared with a 65 percent likelihood a week ago. Oil touched a three-month low of $117 today, easing concern that inflation will accelerate.
In Europe, speculation also eased that the European Central Bank, whose sole mandate is to control inflation, will raise interest rates as the economy slows. The ECB held its benchmark rate at 4.25 percent yesterday. Its president, Jean-Claude Trichet, said expansion will be ``particularly weak'' in the second and third quarters. U.S. stocks rose, helping the Standard & Poor's 500 Index post the first back-to-back weekly gain since May, as retailers and airlines rallied on speculation lower commodity prices will boost earnings.
Home Depot Inc., Macy's Inc. and Gap Inc. climbed as the dollar's biggest advance against the euro in four years pushed crude oil to a three-month low. General Motors Corp. rallied, while United Airlines parent UAL Corp. jumped almost 10 percent. Fannie Mae dropped after joining Freddie Mac in posting a bigger- than-estimated loss and slashing its dividend.
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