Latest News

Stocks, bonds tumble over worldwide rates angst

Asian stocks were a sea of red on Thursday and bonds moved on bets worldwide rate of interest would stay greater for longer, as investors looked to secret inflation readings at the end of the week for further hints on the future path of financial policy.

The dollar rode U.S. Treasury yields higher while product prices came under pressure on restored expectations that the Federal Reserve is not likely to cut rates at any time soon.

The most recent stop in the global risk rally has actually come on the back of information pointing to remaining inflationary pressures across major economies.

Hotter and stickier than expected international inflation appears to be taking the air out of asset markets, said Vishnu Varathan, chief financial expert for Asia ex-Japan at Mizuho Bank. Equities moved and bonds swooned, and USD swaggered.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan fell 1.2%, tracking an unfavorable lead from Wall Street and extending its 1.6% decline from the previous session.

Japan's Nikkei slumped 1.3%, while U.S. and European futures similarly fell. EUROSTOXX 50 futures eased 0.36% while S&P 500 futures decreased 0.6%.

Nasdaq futures moved 0.7%.

A Fed study on Wednesday revealed U.S. economic activity continued to expand from early April through mid-May but companies grew more pessimistic about the future while inflation increased at a modest pace.

Throughout the Atlantic, data the exact same day revealed German inflation rose a little more than forecast to 2.8% in May, ahead of the broader euro zone bloc's reading on Friday.

The primary emphasize of the week for markets, however, is Friday's U.S. core personal consumption expenses (PCE) rate index report - the Federal Reserve's favored step of inflation. Expectations are for it to hold stable on a regular monthly basis.

If we take a look at data that has led us to this point, I have a. tough time thinking a softer-than-expected PCE report will. show up on Friday, said Matt Simpson, senior market expert at. City Index.

From this point of view, PCE not ticking higher might be a. welcome surprise. However must it heat up further from sticky. levels, appetite for danger will be gotten the back for a good. kicking.

U.S. Treasury yields meanwhile stayed raised on Thursday,. in part due to a weak financial obligation auction the previous day. The. benchmark 10-year yield was last at 4.6077%, while. the two-year yield steadied at 4.9767%.

Bond yields move inversely to prices.

Japanese federal government bond (JGB) yields likewise notched. fresh multi-year peaks, on growing expectations that even more. rate walkings from the Bank of Japan might be impending.

The 10-year JGB yield peaked at 1.1% in early. Asia trade, its greatest considering that July 2011.

Elsewhere in Asia, Chinese blue chips eased 0.4%,. tracking its regional peers despite the International Monetary. Fund's upgrade to China's 2024 and 2025 GDP growth forecasts.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index slid 1.4%.

DOLLAR REIGN

In the currency market, the dollar was on the front foot,. knocking the euro to an over two-week low of $1.07915.

The yen last stood at 157.14 per dollar, after. having moved to a four-week low of 157.715 in the previous. session.

The Australian dollar fell 0.14% to $0.6601, after. a quick lift in the previous session on information which revealed. domestic inflation all of a sudden picked up to a five-month high. in April.

This was not the inflation report the Reserve Bank of. Australia would have wished to see, said Rob Carnell, ING's. local head of research study for Asia Pacific.

Oil prices lost ground on worries over weak U.S. gasoline. need and higher-for-longer rates of interest.

Brent fell 0.18% $83.45 per barrel while U.S. crude. ease 0.16% to $79.10 a barrel.

Spot gold similarly fell 0.24% to $2,333.28 an ounce.

(source: Reuters)