Inflation gains steal bond investors’ gaze from Korea

Eurozone bond yields edge up

LONDON, Aug 30, (RTRS): Euro zone government bond yields edged up on Wednesday as forecast-beating inflation in Spain was expected to be followed by similar data in Germany, defying the euro’s recent strength.

Analysts said attention switched to the bloc’s economic health as the initial shock about North Korea’s firing a missile over Japan abated.

Gains of nearly 14 percent for the euro against the dollar this year should have held down prices in the bloc as imports become cheaper.

But data on Wednesday showed Spanish inflation rose 2 percent yearon-year in August, beating economists’ forecasts of 1.8 percent and last month’s reading of 1.7 percent.

Regional data from Germany also pointed to an upswing in the bloc’s biggest economy. Economists expect data to show consumer prices in Germany rising 1.8 percent year-onyear in August, up from 1.7 percent in July.

“We are very much in a situation where, with the euro rising, investors are expecting inflation pressures to soften in the coming months,” Mizuho strategist Antoine Bouvet said.

“So higher inflation data goes counter to the markets’ expectations and you would expect more of a reaction as it would be more of a worry to investors.”

Data on Thursday is expected to show eurozone inflation at 1.4 percent, up from 1.3 percent previously. That is still well below the European Central Bank’s near 2-percent target, but the upward trend will be some comfort for policymakers looking to rein in their monetary stimulus.

On top of that, eurozone economic sentiment hit a new 10-year high on Wednesday, rising for a fourth consecutive month in August.

German 10-year bond yields, the bloc’s benchmark, rose around 2 basis points on Wednesday to 0.36 percent, climbing off a two-month low of 0.34 percent hit Tuesday.

Most other eurozone yields were 1-2 bps higher on the day, reversing some of Tuesday’s slide. Yields rise as prices fall. A key market measure of long-term eurozone inflation – the five-year, five-year breakeven forward rate – traded up to its highest level in almost two weeks.

Analysts said a measured response from the United States to North Korea’s ballistic missile test early on Tuesday had also helped ease a rush into bonds, which are seen by investors as a safer store of cash than equities in times of crisis.

The United Nations, in a statement drafted by the United States, condemned the missile test but held back from any threat of new sanctions against Pyongyang.

Debt sales by Finland and Italy and an exchange from Portugal were also seen adding upward pressure to yields on Wednesday as investors sold their outstanding bonds to make room for the new supply.