Australian bonds slump despite weak inflation, share prices up on firmer commodities

The Australian bonds slumped Wednesday despite consumer prices were surprisingly soft last quarter and core inflation rate stayed below target for a sixth straight quarter. Also, the investors found refuge in the riskier asset following rise in commodities prices.

The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note, which moves inversely to its price, rose more than 4 basis points to 2.74 percent, the yield on 15-year note also jumped nearly  5 basis points to 3.04 percent and the yield on short-term 3-year traded 1/2 basis point higher at 2.03 percent by 04:20 GMT.

The consumer price index (CPI) rose 0.2 per cent in the second quarter and 1.9 percent for the year, well short of the 2.2 per cent increase expected. Underlying inflation rose 0.5 percent in the second quarter, from the first, which matched market forecasts. The annual rate of 1.8 percent was again short of the Reserve Bank of Australia's long-term target band of 2 per cent to 3 per cent, where it has been since the start of 2016.

On the other hand, Australian shares jumped to their highest level in three weeks, as a rise in oil and copper prices boosted energy and material stocks. The metals and mining index rose as much as 2.5 percent, helped by the higher copper prices as well as strong gains in Chinese iron ore futures as investors refocused on China's robust steel sector.

The Australian Treasuries have been closely following developments in oil markets because of their impact on inflation expectations. The International benchmark Brent futures surged 0.76 percent to USD50.58 and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) jumped 1 percent to USD47.37 by 4:20 GMT.

Meanwhile, The S&P/ASX 200 index rose 1 percent, or 58.303 points, to 5,785.20 by 04:30 GMT, while at 04:00GMT, the FxWirePro's Hourly AUD Strength Index remained neutral at -74.97 (a reading above +75 indicates a bullish trend, while that below -75 a bearish trend). For more details, visit http://www.fxwirepro.com/currencyindex

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