30-year yield hovers near 2007 high as traders weigh Fed decision to holds rates steady

U.S. Treasury yields were little changed on Thursday as investors weighed the Federal Reserve's decision to hold interest rates steady and sought insight on future monetary policy decisions. The 30-year Treasury bond yield hovered near levels not seen since 2007, having jumped 6 basis points after regular trading on Wednesday to above 5.2%. The rest of the yield curve was little changed.On Wednesday, the Fed voted to hold its key interest rate steady at a range of 3.5% to 3.75% in a 9-3 vote, at the second FOMC meeting with Chairman Kevin Warsh at the helm."Economic activity is expanding at a solid pace despite elevated uncertainty that owes, in part, to the conflict in the Middle East," the FOMC statement said following the decision. "Job gains have kept pace with the workforce, and the unemployment rate has changed little." Deutsche Bank analysts also noted the Treasury sell-off continuing overnight and said its economists still expect the Fed to raise rates by 50 basis points this year — meaning a 25-basis-point hike in September and December. "But they think the FOMC is unlikely to take much comfort in yesterday's market reaction, with the rise in long-end rates coupled with the decline in forward real yields suggesting doubts about an imminent return of price stability," the analysts said.They added that overall US credit conditions remain supportive, but a steeper yield curve could add pressure to the weak housing market.The latest economic data released Thursday also showed U.S. growth slowing to 1.5% in the second quarter, missing the Dow Jones consensus estimate of 1.8%. Inflation remained above the Fed's target, with core PCE, which excludes food and energy, showing a monthly increase of 0.1% and an annual level of 3.3%. Economists polled by Dow Jones were 0.2% and 3.3%, respectively.