Stock markets sold off across Asia, with the JPN225 underperforming and losing more than -2%. US futures are higher, as are European futures, as markets watch efforts to prevent a further escalation and widening of the Israel-Hamas conflict. Asian markets were still weighed down by heightened risk aversion, but European and US markets show signs of stabilisation. Treasury yields have backed up 5.8 bp to 4.67% and the 10-year Bund yield jumped 2.6 bp, after JGB rates climbed 1.2 bp as haven flows receded. Eurozone spreads are narrowing.
- USDIndex has declined to 106.54 but is currently on a pull back to 106.20. The Kiwi rose 0.71% to 0.5926.
- The ECB is expected to keep rates steady through the first half of 2024. According to the latest Bloomberg survey, the central bank won’t start cutting rates until the second half of next year, with the first cut seen in September, followed by another in October. Compared to the previous survey respondents have pushed out rate cut expectations, which ties in with recent ECB comments suggesting that the outlook may not become clearer until March.
Source Link
