SCOTLAND: First Minister-Devolved Scottish Gov't To Issue Bonds On Int. Markets
In his speech to the Scottish National Party (SNP) conference, First Minister Humza Yousaf has claimed that the devolved Scottish gov't intends to seek to raise money on international bond markets “in our own right" for the first time. Claims that the "Scottish gov't bond issue will be subject to market testing and due diligence", with the bond issuance set to fund infrastructure projects according to the FM.
- Such an issuance will be seen as a test of the fiscal credibility of the Scottish gov't amid the SNP's push for independence from the United Kingdom.
- Data from August showed that, "...the Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (Gers) figures show the country had a £19.1bn deficit - the equivalent of 9% of GDP. The UK had a deficit of 5.2% of GDP." It should be noted that the Gers report remains a controversial political topic in Scotland.
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US TSYS: Yields Higher Ahead Expected Steady FOMC With Tightening Bias Next Week
- US FI markets look to finish weaker across the board Friday, inside a generally narrow session range after scaling back support overnight.
- Weakness came after a hawkish ECB sources story in the FT overnight sapped risk appetites ahead the weekend. Markets had traded positively after Thursday's ECB rate hike messaging was deemed less hawkish at the time. Focus is on next Wednesday's FOMC announcement where the Fed is expected to hold rates steady while maintaining a tightening bias.
- Modest data driven volatility in the first half: Treasury futures extended lows, TYZ3 marks 109-12.5 (-11.5) before drawing some buy interest after NY Fed data show persistent inflation pressures. Import Price Index MoM (0.5% vs. 0.3% est, prior down-revised to 0.1%), Export Price Index MoM (1.3% vs. 0.4% est, prior down-revised to 0.5%) while Empire Manufacturing climbs to 1.9 vs. -10.0 est.
- Treasury futures bounced off session lows after UofM data shows softer inflation expectations: 1 Yr Inflation 3.1% vs. 3.5% est, 5-10 Yr Inflation 2.7% vs 3.0% est. Futures saw sporadic sell interest as TYZ3 climbed to 109-28.5 (+4.5). Curves holding steeper profiles after the bell: 3m10Y +3.338 at -115.408, 2Y10Y +1.304 at -71.637.
- Quiet start to next week with NY Fed Services, NAHB Housing Market Index and TIC Flows.
JGB TECHS: (Z3) Support Has Been Breached
- RES 3: 149.75/150.81 - High Nov 11 / High Aug 5 2022
- RES 2: 149.21/53 - High May 12 / High Mar 22
- RES 1: 146.41 - High Sep 4
- PRICE: 145.58 @ 18:11 BST Sep 15
- SUP 1: 145.38 - Low Sep 12
- SUP 2: 144.39 - 1.0% 10-dma envelope
- SUP 3: 144.15 - Low Jan 13 and a major support
JGBs sold off sharply on Sep 11 and the contract has traded through support at 145.49, the Aug 17 low. A clear break of this area would confirm a resumption of the medium-term downtrend and pave the way for weakness towards 144.39, the lower band of a MA envelope study. On the upside, clearance of 146.41, the Sep 4 high would instead highlight a base and a possible short-term reversal.
US TSYS: SOFR/Treasury Option Roundup Leans Toward Downside Puts
With few exceptions, SOFR/Treasury option trade centered on low delta puts and put spreads Friday as underlying futures traded weaker, see-sawing near the low end of Friday's session range. Rate hike projections through year end cooled: Sep 20 FOMC is 3.8% w/ implied rate change of +0.09bp to 5.338%. November cumulative of +8.2p at 5.410, December cumulative of 11.1bp at 5.439%. Fed terminal at 5.435% in Jan'24.
- SOFR Options: Reminder, Sep SOFR options expire today
- Update, total 6,000 SFRH4 94.56/94.62/94.68/94.75 put condors
- +5,000 SFRH4 98.00/98.25 call spds, 2
- Block, 10,000 SFRZ3 94.68/94.94/95.18 call flys, 0.75 ref 94.535
- over 3,100 SFRM4 95.50/97.00 call spds ref 94.90
- 2,260 SFRU3 94.75 puts, 15.0 last
- 2,890 SFRX3 94.37 puts, 1.5 last
- 1,800 SFRX3 94.18/94.43 put spds
- Treasury Options:
- 2,000 TYX3 112/114 call spds vs. TYZ3 112.5/114 call spds
- 4,000 FVX3 105/105.75 put spds ref 105-29.5
- 2,400 TYX3 115.5 calls, 1 ref 109-14
- 2,400 TYX3 111.5 calls, 17 ref 109-13.5
- 2,100 FVV3 106.5/FVX3 106 put spd
- 2,200 TYX3 108.5 puts
- 1,500 TYV3 108/109 2x1 put spds, 10 ref 109-14.5
- over 5,100 FVV3 105.5 puts, 7 ref 105-30.75
- over 6,300 TYV3 109 puts, 13 last
- 1,700 TYX3 109 puts, 38 ref 109-16.5
- 1,000 FVZ3 104.5/105.25/106 put trees ref 106-00.25
- over 7,100 USV3 117 puts, mostly 13 ref 118-25
- 1,500 TYX3 111.5/113 call spds ref 109-27.5
