2018.08.1515:18:00UTC+00Treasuries Benefit From Renewed Concerns About Turkey

Following the pullback seen over the two previous sessions, treasuries moved back to the upside during trading on Wednesday.

Bond prices gave back some ground after seeing early strength but remained firmly positive. As a result, the yield on the benchmark ten-year note, which moves opposite of its price, fell by 4.3 basis points to 2.852 percent.

With the notable decrease on the day, the ten-year yield dropped to its lowest closing level in almost a month.

Treasuries benefited from their appeal as a safe haven amid renewed concerns about Turkey after the Turkish government announced an increase in tariffs on American cars, alcohol and cigarettes.

The move is likely to intensify the dispute between the U.S. and Turkey, which recently dragged the Turkish lira down to a record low.

Meanwhile, in an effort to deter short-selling in the nation's currency, Turkey's banking regulator said it would limit banks' currency swap transactions.

The clash between the U.S. and Turkey also comes amid the ongoing trade dispute between the U.S. and China, which has raised concerns about the global economy.

Traders were also digesting a slew of U.S. economic data, including a report from the Federal Reserve showing a smaller than expected increase in industrial production in the month of July.

The Fed said industrial production inched up by 0.1 percent in July after jumping by an upwardly revised 1.0 percent in June. Economists had expected production to rise by 0.3 percent.

A separate report from the Commerce Department showed retail sales climbed by more than expected in July, although the report also showed a significant downward revision to the sale growth in June.

The Commerce Department said retail sales rose by 0.5 percent in July compared to economist estimates for a 0.1 percent uptick.

However, the report also showed the increase in retail sales in June was downwardly revised to 0.2 percent from the 0.5 percent previously reported.

Partly reflecting growing affordability concerns, the National Association of Home Builders also released a report showing a modest deterioration in homebuilder confidence in the month of August.

The report said the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index edged down to 67 in August from 68 in June, matching economist estimates.

Trading on Thursday may be impacted by developments regarding Turkey as well as U.S. economic reports on weekly jobless claims, housing starts, and Philadelphia-area manufacturing activity.