Australian bonds plunge tracking strong wage rise in U.S.; eyes August employment data

Australian bonds plunged on the first trading day of the week Monday tracking strong rise in wages in the United States over the past week. Investors will now be eyeing the country’s employment data for the month of August, scheduled to be released by end of this week for further direction in the debt market.

The yield on Australia’s benchmark 10-year note, which moves inversely to its price, jumped 4 basis points to 2.588 percent, the yield on the long-term 30-year bonds climbed 3 basis points 3.084 percent and the yield on short-term 2-year traded 2-1/2 basis points higher at 2.015 percent by 04:00GMT.

US yields surged at the end of trading day last week, with wage growth rising at the quickest pace since 2009. The US 2-year yield rose 7bps to 2.70 percent, with the 10-year yield up the same amount to 2.95 percent. Equities were biased lower on President Trump saying he is ready to impose more tariffs on China, in addition to those pending.

Trade uncertainty remains a persistent theme. Brexit headlines were mixed over the weekend. On the US-China dispute, President Trump said in an impromptu interview on Friday that he is ready to go on another USD267 billion in tariffs on China at short notice, in addition to the pending USD200 billion.

Meanwhile, the S&P/ASX 200 index traded 0.65 percent higher at 6,142.50 by 04:10GMT, while at 04:00GMT, the FxWirePro's Hourly AUD Strength Index remained slightly bearish at -89.31 (a reading above +75 indicates a bullish trend, while that below -75 a bearish trend). For more details, visit http://www.fxwirepro.com/currencyindex