Europe worries nudge most Treasurys higher

NEW YORK — Worries over Europe's debt crisis are nudging most U.S. government bonds higher. Some shorter-dated Treasurys dipped Tuesday after the government sold $32 billion in three-year notes.

The price of the 10-year note is up 9.4 cents for every $100 invested in early afternoon trading. The higher price lowered the yield to 2.91 percent from 2.93 percent late Monday. Long-term interest rates are near their lowest levels this year.

Investors are concerned that Italy, Europe's third-largest economy, could become the next country in that region to need help managing its debts. In times of crisis, traders often park their cash in Treasurys, which are still seen as one of the world's safest investments.

In Tuesday's debt auction, the Treasury sold $32 billion in three-year notes at a yield of 0.67 percent.