GILT SYNDICATION: 4.50% Mar-35 gilt: Preview (2/2)

Feb-10 10:39
  • In terms of the size expectation, we pencil in GBP8.5-10.0bln – smaller than the 10-year syndication held in June.
  • The DMO pencilled in GBP8.5bln for the transaction when it updated its remit following the October Budget (prior to that there had only been the one medium-dated syndication planned for this year). Normally if the DMO wants to upsize a syndication it will use some of the unallocated issuance bucket – but given the recent tenders there is less than GBP1.2bln remaining.
  • It would be unusual, but we think there is also scope for the DMO to top up the syndication amount with a small portion of the remaining medium-dated auction bucket. There are only two medium-dated auction left this fiscal year: one of the 15-year 4.375% Jan-40 gilt which is due to be opened via reopened for auction for the first time following a syndicated launch in September and syndication tap in January. The other auction is a reopening of the 4.50% Mar-35 gilt due to be launched this week. We currently pencil in auction sizes of GBP3.0bln and GBP4.0bln respectively and note that if half of the PAOF is taken up we would only see GBP7.7bln of the remaining GBP8.7bln in the medium-dated bucket filled. This should give the DMO flexibility to transfer up to around GBP1.0bln from the medium-dated auction bucket to upsize this syndication without altering the auction sizes.
  • If the DMO is comfortable to increase the syndication size further and to reduce the size of the 4.50% Mar-35 auction in March to for example GBP3.0bln then in conjunction with a transfer from the unallocated bucket, the GBP11.0bln transaction size seen in June could be repeated. We think overall though that a GBP8.5-10.0bln size seems more likely.
  • Bookrunners: Barclays, BNP Paribas, Citi, Goldman Sachs International Bank, HSBC and NatWest.

Historical bullets

US TSYS: Strong Jobs & Unemployment Rate Dip Dashes Rate Cut Hopes

Jan-10 20:22
  • Treasuries gapped lower after Friday morning's larger than expected December non-farm and private payroll gains while unemployment dipped slightly.
  • The 256k in December leaves a strong recent trend, with 255k in Sep, an average of 128k for those two months (initially 132k) before surprisingly reaccelerating again. Unemployment rate: 4.086% in Dec after very small downward revisions in the prior two months, with 4.23% in Nov (initially 4.246%) and 4.14% in Oct (initially 4.15%).
  • The Dec'24 10Y contract traded down to 107-12 low (-27) well through technical support of 107-19.5 (1.618 proj of the Oct 1 - 14 - 16 price swing) next level: 107-04 (Low Apr 25 ‘24 and a key support). Curves bear flattened but finished off lows, 2s10s -3.937 at 38.383 vs. 36.572 low, 5s30s -9.612 at 37.484. 10Y yield taps 4.7860 - highest since May 2022.
  • Futures retreated towards post data lows late in the session while projected rate cuts through mid-2025 have retreated since this morning's data, current vs. morning levels* as follows: Jan'25 at -0.7bp (-1.7bp), Mar'25 -6.3bp (-10.1bp), May'25 -10.5bp (-15.9bp), Jun'25 -18.2bp (-25.6bp), Jul'25 -20.2bp (25.5bp).
  • Next week brings CPI and PPI inflation measures on Wednesday and Thursday respectively, the scheduled Fed speaker docket rather muted with the Fed Blackout next Friday.

US TSYS: Lat eSOFR/Treasury Option Roundup: Heavy SOFR Puts

Jan-10 20:09

Heavy option volumes reported Friday, SOFR outpacing Treasury flows with the former leaning towards downside puts as underlying futures retreated towards post data lows late in the session. Projected rate cuts through mid-2025 have retreated since this morning's data, current vs. morning levels* as follows: Jan'25 at -0.7bp (-1.7bp), Mar'25 -6.3bp (-10.1bp), May'25 -10.5bp (-15.9bp), Jun'25 -18.2bp (-25.6bp), Jul'25 -20.2bp (25.5bp).

  • SOFR Options
    • Block, 9,000 SFRM5 95.62/95.75 put spds, 6.0 ref 95.84
    • +20,000 0QK5 95.25/95.50 put spds 1.0-1.25 over 96.00/96.12 call spds
    • Block, +6,400 SFRZ5 97.00/98.00 call spds, 8.0 vs. 95.925/0.12%
    • +8,000 0QM5/0QU5 94.50/95.00 put spd strip 9.75 total
    • +5,000 0QM5 94.00/94.50/95.00 put flys, 2.5 vs. 95.87/0.05%
    • +10,000 SFRZ5 95.25/95.75 2x1 put spds, 3.25 ref 95.915
    • +6,000 SFRM5 96.00/96.25 call spds, 4.5 ref 95.845
    • -5,000 SFRZ5 96.56 calls, 18.5 ref 95.905
    • -6,000 0QM5 95.75 puts cvrd vs 2QM5/3QM5 95.75 put strip cvrd, 10.5 net puts over
    • +20,000 0QM5 96.37/97.00 call spds vs 95.37/95.62 put spd, 3.0 net calls over
    • -10,000 0QG5 96.00 calls, 12.0 ref 95.95
    • -20,000 0QH5 96.62 calls, 3.0
    • +7,000 0QZ5 97.25 calls, 9.5 vs. 95.87/0.14%
    • +10,000 SFRJ5 96.50 calls, 2.75 ref 95.855
    • -5,000 SRM5 96.00/96.25 call spds, 4.5 ref 95.845
    • -8,000 SFRJ5 95.75 puts, 7.0 ref 95.84
    • -10,000 SFRG5 95.68 puts, 1.5 ref 95.75
    • +5,000 SFRU5 96.50/97.00 call spds 5.0 ref 95.88
    • +10,000 SFRK5 96.50/96.75/97.00/97.25 call condors, 1.00 ref 95.91
    • Block, 5,000 SFRZ5 95.25/95.75 2x1 put spds, 3.0 net ref 95.935
    • 5,000 SFRM5 96.06/96.18 call spd vs. 0QM5 96.25/96.37 call spd
    • 10,000 SFRF5 95.87 calls, cab
    • 2,000 0QG5 95.81/95.87/95.93 put flys ref 96.02
    • Block/screen, 10,000 2QH5 95.00/95.50 put spds, 4.0 vs. 95.94/0.15%
    • +3,000 SFRH5 95.875/96.1875 call spd 3.25, ref 95.795
    • 1,500 SFRK5 95.75/95.87/96.00 put flys ref 95.92
    • Blocks, +10,000 SFRM5 95.75/95.9375/96.1875/96.375 call condor, 5.0 vs. 95.90/0.10%
    • Blocks, +18,966 SFRJ5 96.125/96.3125/96.5625/96.75 call condor, 2.50 ref 95.93
  • Treasury Options
    • 10,000 TYG5 107.5/108.25 call spds 27 ref 107-24
    • 4,000 TYG5 104.25/105.75 put spds ref 107-21
    • -10,000 TYG5 106/106.5 put strips, 14
    • 4,000 Monday wkly TY 107/107.25 put spds ref 108-03 (expire Monday)
    • over -19,500 wk2 TY 107.5 puts, 4-5 (expire today, OI 39,662)
    • 2,000 TYH5 106/108 2x1 put spd vs. 108.5/111 1x2 call spds ref 108-08.5
    • 3,150 TYH5 111/113 1x2 call spds ref 108-02.5
    • 2,000 TYG5 109.5/110.5/111.5 call flys ref 108-04.5
    • +13,000 TYH 106.5/107.5 2x1 put spd, 4 ref 108-05 (106.5 strike appr 4.95%)
    • 3,500 TYG5 108/109.5 put spds, ref 108-05
    • 5,000 TYG5 106.5/107.5 put spds, ref 108-05

JGB TECHS: (H5) Downtrend Extends

Jan-10 19:55
  • RES 3: 147.74 - High Jan 15 and bull trigger (cont)
  • RES 2: 146.53 - High Aug 6 
  • RES 1: 142.73/144.48 - High Dec 9 / High Nov 11  
  • PRICE: 140.58 @ 19:10 GMT Jan 10
  • SUP 1: 140.54 - 2.236 proj of the Aug 6 - Sep 3 - 9 price swing
  • SUP 2: 140-00 - Round number support
  • SUP 3: 139.38 - 2.764 proj of the Aug 6 - Sep 3 - 9 price swing    

A clear downtrend in JGB futures remains intact and the latest fresh cycle lows, reinforces this condition. Note too that moving average studies on the continuation chart are in a bear-mode setup, highlighting a clear downtrend. The move down exposes the 140.00 psychological handle next. For bulls, a reversal would open 142.73 and 144.48, the Dec 9 and Nov 11 high respectively.