Bonds end mixed in thin trade, call rates slips

Government bond (G-Secs) rates continued display mixed trend in lackluster trade owing to alternate bouts of buying and selling.
The interbank call rates retreated after two-day rally due to subdued demand from borrowing banks in the face of adequate liquidity in the banking system.
Meanwhile, government debt securities attracted bids worth Rs 7,227 crore from foreign investors as against Rs 7,264 crore on offer in an online auction.
The auction was conducted on NSE's e-bid platform from 1530 hrs to 1730 hrs yesterday after the close of market hours.
The benchmark 7.59 per cent government security maturing in 2026 softened to Rs 102.28 from Rs 102.31 yesterday, while its yield remained steady at 7.25 per cent.

The 7.61 per cent government security maturing in 2030 eased to Rs 102.3750 as against Rs 102.38, its yield finished unchanged at 7.33 per cent.

The 7.68 per cent government security maturing in 2023, 7.72 per cent government security maturing in 2025 and the 8.27 per cent government security maturing in 2020 were also quoted lower at Rs 102.5575, Rs 102.6275 and Rs 104.10, respectively.
However, the 7.59 per cent government security maturing in 2029 and the 7.88 per cent government security maturing in 2030 settled modestly higher at Rs 101.7250 and Rs 104.2450, respectively.
The overnight call money rate ended slightly lower at 6.45 per cent as compared to 6.50 per cent Monday after trading in a narrow range of 6.55 per cent and 6.30 per cent during the day.

Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), under the Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF),purchased securities worth Rs 68.74 billion in 18-bids at one-day repo auction at a fixed rate of 6.50 per cent this evening.
It sold securities worth Rs 44.29 billion from 18-bids at the overnight reverse repo auction at a fixed rate of 6.00 per cent late yesterday.