The yield dipped to 8.31 percent, from 8.34 percent on Tuesday and 8.32 percent at the end of last week.

Ten-year sovereign yields dipped below 2pc during the last week of 2011.

On Wednesday, the yield had dipped to 5.96 percent.

The yield on banks' three-month certificates dipped a basis point, to 7.90 percent.

The long bond's yield dipped to 8.47 percent from 8.48 percent the day before, but was still above the 8.42 of a week ago.

Shortly after the durable-goods report, the yield dipped as low as 8.60 percent.

Friday was the first time since Oct. 14 that the yield had dipped below 7.50 percent.

In any case, the yield dipped a basis point, to 8.13 percent, from 8.14 percent last Friday.

The bond's yield dipped to 4.36 percent from 4.37 percent.

"This scenario closes off the possibility that yields will dip significantly further."