Aust bonds firmer after weak US data January 7, 2014 - 9:35AM The Australian bond market is firmer after weak US economic data encouraged traders to move out of riskier investments and into safe-haven assets. US services sector activity slowed in December, with orders at the end of the year showing weakness in many areas, the Institute for Supply Management says. St George Bank senior economist Hans Kunnen said the services data along with some strong factory orders figures made for a fairly flat night for equities markets. "Mixed economic signals out of the US dampened the appetite for risk assets overnight," he said. US long bond yields retreated (prices rose) below three per cent to 2.96 per cent on the softer than expected US services numbers. In Australia, long bond yields continue their steady climb. At 0830 AEDT on Tuesday, the March 2014 10-year bond futures contract was trading at 95.725 (implying a yield of 4.275 per cent), up from 95.665 (4.335 per cent) on Monday. The March 2014 three-year bond futures contract was at 96.950 (3.050 per cent), up from 96.910 (3.090 per cent). On Tuesday the Australian Bureau of Statistics will release international trade figures for November.