Bonds Buoyed, Risk Sours Ahead Jackson Hole Economic Symposium

Rates trading mixed -- off lows after the bell with Bonds inching higher as appetite for risk sours as Pentagon officials hold press conference to discuss the bombing attacks, deaths at Kabul airport. Somber end to a day that would otherwise be more focused on Friday's Jackson Hole/remote economic symposium.

• The event agenda will be posted on the KC Fed site tonight at 2000ET. Fed chair Powell speaks Fri at 1000ET -- but six generally hawkish Fed speakers are expected to speak on Bbg, CNBC prior to the Fed chair's speech.
• Today, KC Fed's George, StL's Bullard and Dallas' Kaplan expressed their opinions.
• Rates weakened as KC Fed George expressed "good arguments" for tapering asset purchases sooner than later on Bbg interview, open minded about pace.
• USD firmed after StL Fed Bullard said the "ECONOMY IS BOOMING AND DOESN'T NEED MUCH MORE STIMULUS" Bbg while implying a timeline with: "FINISHING TAPER BY END-1Q WOULD GIVE FED `OPTIONALITY'" Bbg.
• Dallas' Fed Kaplan prefers to taper sooner at a gradual pace.
• Overall trade volumes remained heavy due to Tsy quarterly futures rolling, now over 75% complete. Tsys traded lower after $62B 7Y note (91282CCV1) auction tailed 5bp: 1.155% high yield vs. 1.150% WI. Strong Indirect take-up climbed to 61.07 vs. 58.37 in July (58.45% 5M avg).
• The 2-Yr yield is down 0.2bps at 0.2367%, 5-Yr is up 2.2bps at 0.8395%, 10-Yr is up 0.2bps at 1.3407%, and 30-Yr is down 1.2bps at 1.9365%.