U.S. Treasury seven-year notes sold at a high yield of 5.085%--the highest since April 1993--amid a global bond sell off that continued Thursday.

The Treasury Department sold nearly $44 billion in U.S. 7-year notes. The high yield compared to a market yield of 5.078%, a signal of lower demand.

The bid-to-cover ratio, another measure of demand, was 2.42, lower than the 2.50 level at its auction late last month.

Indirect bidders, a group that includes foreign buyers, took 57.2% of the debt being sold, down from about 61% in last auction.

The U.S. Treasury yields moved slightly higher following the auction. The 2-year yield hovers around 4.891%, and the 10-year yield sits at around 5.146%.

The U.S. Treasury discontinued the 7-year note after the April 1993 auction. It was reintroduced in February 2009.