Treasury prices fell on Tuesday after a news report suggested that the European Central Bank is considering adding corporate bond purchases to its plans to spur flagging growth in the European economy. That boosted risk assets and pulled down U.S. government debt. The 10-year Treasury note (10_YEAR) yield, which rises as prices fall, was up 3 basis points at 2.211%.

A Reuters report that cited anonymous sources said the central bank may decide to begin buying debt sold by companies as it ramps up its stimulus measures. The ECB began purchasing covered bonds this week as it undertakes efforts to fight deflation.

A decision on corporate bonds could come as soon as December. A spokesperson for the ECB played down the report, saying it has made no decision.

Undertaking a corporate-bond purchase plan by the ECB could prove tricky.

“Like the ABS [Asset-Backed Securities] market, wholesale buying of corporate bonds will be difficult given liquidity considerations made worse by the ECB’s strict purchase criteria,” said Adrian Miller, director of fixed-income strategy at GMP Securities, LLC, in a note.

Treasury market participants will also look to a report on U.S. existing home sales at 10 a.m. Eastern.

The 30-year bond (30_YEAR) yield rose 2 basis points to 2.979% while the 5-year note (5_YEAR) yield climbed 3 basis points to 1.428%.