Menu

Search

  |   Commentary

Menu

  |   Commentary

Search

German bunds slump ahead of May manufacturing PMI, Q1 2018 GDP

The German bunds slumped during European session Tuesday as investors wait to watch the country’s manufacturing PMI for the month of May, scheduled to be released on May 23 by 07:30GMT and the gross domestic product (GDP) for the first quarter of this year, due on May 24 by 06:00GMT will add further direction to the debt market.

The German 10-year bond yields, which move inversely to its price, jumped 4 basis points to 0.56 percent, the yield on 30-year note surged nearly 4-1/2 basis points to 1.26 percent and the yield on short-term 2-year traded nearly 1 basis point higher at -0.59 percent by 09:20GMT.

In Europe, today’s market focus will remain on Italy, as the M5S and the League inch closer to forming a coalition government. As expected, in meetings with President Sergio Mattarella yesterday, party leaders Luigi Di Maio and Matteo Salvini proposed law professor Giuseppe Conte to be the new Prime Minister.

But the President appears to be hesitating to accept the nomination – reports suggest that he is (appropriately) worried about the new government agenda and what it would imply for the trajectory of the public finances going forward, while the role of the new PM and his potential inability to shape policies for which he would be nominally responsible is also a concern.

The President will consult leaders of both chambers of the parliament today, with a decision seemingly unlikely before tomorrow. Whatever, markets this morning appear somewhat encouraged by the President’s determination to play things by the book and act as a constraint on the policy choices of M5S and the League, with the spread of 10Y BTPs over Bunds some 8bps narrower this morning.

Meanwhile, the German DAX traded 0.06 percent higher at 13,085.68 by 09:30GMT, while at 09:00GMT, the FxWirePro's Hourly Euro Strength Index remained neutral at -33.14 (higher than +75 represents bullish trend). For more details, visit http://www.fxwirepro.com/currencyindex

Lastly, FxWirePro launches Absolute Return Managed Program. For more details, visit http://www.fxwirepro.com/invest

  • Market Data
Close

Welcome to EconoTimes

Sign up for daily updates for the most important
stories unfolding in the global economy.