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UK government borrowing costs rose sharply on Friday but remained below Thursday's peak as investors awaited a key US jobs report later in the day.
The 10-year gilt yield rose 0.03 percent to 4.84 percent but was below the 4.93 percent limit set on Thursday, the highest since 2008. Yields move inversely with prices.
Sterling was lower against the dollar, down 0.2 percent to $1.229.
Gilts have suffered in recent sessions amid a global rise in government bond yields driven by sticky inflation in the macro economy.
Analysts said they are closely watching US jobs data for December, due later on Friday, which will help drive the direction of bond yields, including gilts.
The UK has been hit hard by global sales as investors worry about government borrowing needs and the growing threat of inflation, which combines anemic growth and persistent price pressures.
The credibility of the government's economic plans is under pressure in the bond market after it canceled Rachel Reeves which left just 9.9bn of headroom against her revised money rules in last year's Autumn Budget.
A rise in gold yields since then has put that budget's wiggle room at risk. The level of bond products is an important source of budget headroom, in terms of its impact on the government's interest bill, which exceeds £100bn per year.
Labor has sought to reassure investors this week, with Darren Jones, number two at the UK Treasury, telling MPs on Thursday that the government is committed to “economic stability and sound public finances”.