US TSYS: Could a Stronger GDP See Yields Higher Again? (amended)

Oct-30 04:58
  • US treasury futures trended sideways today, after last night's dramatic shift and will look ahead to tonight's trading session to see if there is further follow on.  The 10-Yr bond future was around 112-18+ by late afternoon in the trading day in Asia, up marginally from the US close of 112-25

Bonds rallied back with yields down 1-2bps in what appears to be profit taking.  In what was a relatively outsized move overnight in yields, it was unsurprising to see a modest bounce back today.  

  • The US 2-Yr is -1.8bps lower at 3.582%
  • The US 5-Yr is down -1.9bps at 3.694%
  • The US 10-Yr has recovered a little, down -1.9bps at 4.06%
  • The US 30-Yr is at 4.614% down -1.2bps on the day.

It remains to be seen whether the bond market will continue to sell of in US time overnight.  The auction schedule is predominantly bills and unlikely to drive the direction for bonds.  

Most likely catalyst for tonight would be data with initial jobless claims and GDP QoQ originally expected, GDP is expected to moderate to 3.0% from 3.8% but appears unlikely that it will be released.  The likelihood is that positioning in treasuries is more balanced after last night's move.  Should however GDP not moderate as much as forecasts, it could push on the market further sending yields higher.  

Historical bullets

AUSSIE BONDS: Cheaper After RBA Policy Decision

Sep-30 04:49

ACGBs (YM -5.5 & XM -1.0) have bear-flattened to session cheaps after the RBA leaves the cash rate unchanged at 3.360%, as widely expected.

  • The RBA unanimously set the cash rate at 3.60%, stressing its commitment to achieving price stability and jobs growth. The board judged it appropriate to remain cautious given uncertainties. The housing market is strengthening, private demand is recovering faster, and domestic economic activity is rebounding, though the outlook remains uncertain. Labour market conditions are tight with low underutilisation, but productivity growth is weak. Inflation uncertainty persists, with recent data suggesting third-quarter inflation may be higher than expected, while underlying inflation’s decline has slowed. The RBA affirmed its policy is well placed to respond decisively to global events.
  • Cash US tsys are slightly cheaper, with a slight steepening bias, in today's Asia-Pac session after yesterday's bull-flattener.
  • Cash ACGBs are 1-5bps cheaper with the AU-US 10-year yield differential at +20bps.
  • The bills strip is -5 to -7 across contracts.
  • RBA-dated OIS pricing is 2-6bps firmer across meetings after giving a 25bp rate cut today a 3% probability. A cumulative 12bps (17bps pre-RBA) of easing is priced by year-end.
  • Tomorrow, the local calendar will see Cotality Home Values and S&P Global PMI Mfg (F).
  • The AOFM plans to sell A$1200mn of the 3.50% 21 December 2034 bond.

AUD: Asia Wrap - AUD/USD Drifts Higher Then Pops To Test 0.6600 On RBA

Sep-30 04:43

The AUD/USD has had a range of 0.6571 - 0.6603 in the Asia- Pac session, it is currently trading around 0.6600, +0.35%. The USD can’t find any friends and a potential shutdown has brought out all the bears again. The AUD drifted higher in sympathy, the RBA left rates unchanged and gave the pair an extra bump up to test 0.6600. I suspect some resistance back towards the 0.6600/0.6625 area initially. The Payrolls data this week was to be critical so should we not get it due to a shutdown the ADP print could take on larger significance. 

  • "RBA SAYS HOUSING MARKET STRENGTHENING, BOARD JUDGED APPROPRIATE TO REMAIN CAUTIOUS. SAYS LABOR MARKET CONDITIONS REMAIN A LITTLE TIGHT. RECENT DATA SUGGEST 3Q INFLATION MAY BE HIGHER THAN SEEN, SAYS DECLINE IN UNDERLYING INFLATION HAS SLOWED." - BBG
  • "AUSTRALIA AUG. PRIVATE CREDIT RISES 7.2% Y/Y, AUSTRALIA AUG. PRIVATE CREDIT RISES 0.6% M/M; EST. +0.6%"  -  BBG
  • "AUSTRALIA AUG. BUILDING APPROVALS FALL 6.0% M/M; EST. 2.6%, AUSTRALIA AUG. PRIVATE-SECTOR HOME APPROVALS FALL 2.6% M/M"  -  BBG
  • Options : Closest significant option expiries for NY cut, based on DTCC data: 0.6417(AUD597m), 0.6600(AUD820m), 0.6800(AUD525m). Upcoming Close Strikes : 0.6600(AUD1.5b Oct 3), 0.6600(AUD1.7b Oct 2), 0.6700(AUD1.64b Oct 1) - BBG
  • CFTC Data last week shows Asset managers added back to their recently reduced shorts, -48580(Last -41095). The Leveraged community did likewise, -6358(Last -1519).
  • AUD/JPY - Asia-Pac range 97.70 - 98.08, Asia is trading around 98.00. The pair found solid demand back towards 97.00 and bounced last week with the help of the AU CPI print. While above 97.00 the focus will remain on September’s highs toward 98.50.

Fig 1: AUD/USD spot 2HChart

image

Source: MNI - Market News/Bloomberg Finance L.P

OIL: Crude Continues Trending Lower, Focus On Supply Outlook

Sep-30 04:39

After falling over 3.5% on Monday, oil has continued falling during Tuesday’s APAC session as the market’s attention returns to excess supply concerns. WTI is down 0.6% to $63.09/bbl after rising to $63.21 and then falling to $62.91. Brent (December) is also 0.6% lower at $66.68/bbl off the intraday trough of $66.52 which followed a high of $66.82. The USD index is flat.

  • The focus has returned to supply following flows from Iraqi Kurdistan to Turkey resumed on the weekend after being halted for around two and a half years. Thus, the upcoming 5 October OPEC+ meeting is of particular interest and it is currently expected to increase November production by at least 137kbd in line with October. While the group wants to increase market share, there is little material spare capacity amongst members, except Saudi Arabia.
  • An increase in inventories is a sign of excess supply. US industry-based data is released later on Tuesday.
  • Later the Fed’s Jefferson, Collins, Goolsbee, Logan, ECB’s Lagarde, Elderson, Machado, Cipollone and BoE’s Mann, Lombardelli and Breeden speak. US July housing data, August JOLTS job openings, September MNI Chicago PMI and Conference Board consumer confidence as well as German August retail sales, unemployment and preliminary German/Italian September CPIs are released.