The U.S. Treasury auction of 30-year bonds Thursday showed steady demand, despite elevated long-term Treasury yields.

The Treasury's monthly auction sold $22 billion in bonds, with a high yield of 5.618%. That is the highest level since August 10, 2000, which had a high yield of 5.697%.

The high yield compared with a market yield of 5.62% at the time.

Following the auction, the U.S. 30-year yield hovers around 5.617%. The benchmark 10-year Treasury yield was recently at 5.239%.

The bid-to-cover ratio, a measure of investor demand, was 2.54, down from 2.61 in September.

On Wednesday, the Treasury Department auctioned $39 billion of 10-year notes at a yield of 5.300%, the highest yield since an auction held in November 2000, which had a high yield of 5.865%.

Later on Thursday, the Treasury is scheduled to conduct a buyback operation involving securities maturing in 20 to 30 years.