Other traders said trading was slow and that there was not much retail buying or selling.

But that drop in Treasury prices led to a bit of retail buying, traders said, prompting a small rebound.

"There was a decent amount of retail buying."

The association's figures make no attempt to separate retail buying from selling.

The commercial zone is the center of Cofradia, where most retail buying and selling occurs.

"Oil is the No. 1 thing people watch, and the lack of retail buying is not helping."

Middle-class women in the late 19th century were accustomed to other forms of retail buying.

"But once the results of the two-year sale became known after lunch, business picked up and we even saw some retail buying late in the afternoon."

The employment data also prompted some retail buying of intermediate Treasury maturities, he continued.

Another trader added: "We didn't see any retail buying.