By the end of last week, the yield on the Treasury's closely watched bonds that mature in 2018 stood at nearly 9.10 percent.

Late Thursday, the bond-equivalent yield on three-month bills stood at just under 9.35 percent.

Late yesterday, the yield on the 30-year Treasury bond stood at 6.22 percent, its highest level in nearly two years.

Two weeks ago, the yield stood at 6.64.

For example, on Jan. 4 the yield on the 30-year bond stood at 8.93 percent, slightly higher than yesterday's close.

The yield on three-year corporate bonds now stands around 10 percent.

Italy is due to sell €8.5bn of debt tomorrow and the yield, having hovered below 7% today, now stands at 7.05%.

A month ago, the yield stood at 6.78 percent.

A month earlier, the yield stood at 6.30.

The yield on the Treasury's closely watched 30-year bond now stands at 9.04 percent.