UK gilts narrowly mixed after July manufacturing production disappoints investors, trade balance improves

The United Kingdom’s gilts traded mixed during European session Monday after the country’s manufacturing production for the month of July disappointed market participants, missing expectations as well as down from the previous reading in June.

However, Britain’s trade balance for the similar period improved, adding to hopes among investors and thus lending a mixed reading to the debt market.

The yield on the benchmark 10-year gilts, rose nearly 1/2 basis point to 1.463 percent, the super-long 30-year bond yields hovered around 1.820 percent while the yield on the short-term 2-year traded nearly 1 basis point lower at 0.755 percent by 11:00GMT.

The United Kingdom’s manufacturing output came in at -0.2 percent m/m in July compared to market expectations of 0.2 percent and 0.4 percent registered in July, while total industrial output gained 0.1 percent in the said month, against a 0.4 percent rise seen in June.

On an annualized basis, the country’s manufacturing production figures came in at 1.1 percent in July, missing expectations of 1.5 percent. Total industrial output also expanded by 0.9 percent in July, missing expectations of a 1.1 percent reading and against the previous 1.1 percent reading.

Lastly, trade balance registered -GBP 9.970 billion in July, versus market estimates of -GBP11.750 billion and -GBP10.680 billion in the last reading.

Meanwhile, the FTSE 100 rose 0.36 percent to 7,303.48 by 11:20GMT, while at 11:00GMT, the FxWirePro's Hourly Pound Strength Index remained neutral at 66.80 (a reading above +75 indicates a bullish trend, while that below -75 a bearish trend). For more details, visit http://www.fxwirepro.com/currencyindex