Bond investors look to big week ahead

U.S. government debt prices were lower on Friday as investors looked to the release of key data this week and anticipated a meeting of the Fed in the coming week.

The move came as both U.S and Brent crude oil traded higher, above $31 per barrel, and major U.S. stock averages rose.

The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note (U.S.: US10Y) sat higher, at 2.0536 percent, with the yield on the 30-year Treasury bond also higher, at 2.8257 percent.

Even if the economy is not heading for a recession, the fear is the very behavior of the financial markets could sap the economy's strength.

In the Treasury market, the yield curve has been flattening, with the distance between yields on two-year and 10-year notes getting closer together. That is seen as a signal of pending economic weakness.

The Fed is not expected to take action on rates when it meets, but it will be watched for any change in tone about the economy or future rate hikes.

On the data front, leading indicators dipped 0.2 percent in December to 123.7, existing home sales surged 14.7 percent in December.

— CNBC's Patti Domm contributed to this report

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