UK gilts tad lower on caution ahead of Q3 economic growth

The UK gilts remained tad lower Monday as investors remained cautioned ahead of the release of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) for the third quarter of this year, scheduled to be released on October 25 by 08:30GMT.       

The yield on the benchmark 10-year gilts, hovered around 1.33 percent, the super-long 30-year bond yields also flat at 1.90 percent and the yield on the short-term 2-year too traded nearly 1 basis point higher at 0.45 percent by 09:40 GMT.

The main focus in the UK will be the release of the first estimate of Q3 GDP on Wednesday. In line with the consensus, we expect another quarter of tepid growth at the 0.3 percent q/q, 1.5 percent y/y rate of Q2, which might nevertheless prove sufficiently strong to persuade a majority of MPC members to vote for a hike in Bank Rate on 2 November.

While there will be no expenditure breakdown provided, the GDP release will likely show moderate growth in both the services and industrial sectors. Other new data will be thin on the ground in the coming week, although BBA bank loan data for September are also due on Wednesday, the CBI’s Industrial Trends Survey for October is due today and its Distributive Trades Survey, also for the current month, is due on Thursday. In the bond markets, the DMO will sell index-linked Gilts tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the FTSE 100 traded 0.09 percent higher at 7,530.75 by 09:45 GMT, while at 09:00GMT, the FxWirePro's Hourly Pound Strength Index remained neutral at 48.17 (a reading above +75 indicates a bullish trend, while that below -75 a bearish trend). For more details, visit http://www.fxwirepro.com/currencyindex

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