Early downward pressure in 10-year Bund yields stalled just above the 2.50% level, with yields across the curve now back to ~1bp lower on the day. There wasn’t a clear headline driver for the early rally in EGBs, with markets still digesting the de-escalation in the Middle East alongside yesterday’s German and Italian fiscal/issuance announcements.
- Bund futures are -4 ticks at 130.80, peaking at 131.12 earlier this morning. Bunds remain in consolidation mode, trading below the Jun 13 high. For now, the recent move down appears to be a correction. Key short-term support to watch lies at 130.12, the Jun 5 low.
- The 10-year BTP/Bund spread found support at the 90bp handle, with a pullback in European equities from session highs helping to spread back to 91.5bps. Italy sold E3.0bln of the new 2.10% Aug-27 BTP Short Term and E3.0bln of the new 1.10% Aug-31 BTPei this morning.
- In France, the Socialist party has submitted a censure motion against the Bayrou government. Although RN leader Bardella said his party would not support the current motion, he still signalled that a vote of no confidence could still be called in response to the 2026 budget, proposals for which will be detailed next month. The 10-year OAT/Bund spread is 1.5bps narrower today at 69bps despite the evident political risks.
- Today’s regional data calendar has been light (French consumer confidence was a little weaker-than-expected), with focus turning to the Spanish and French flash June inflation prints on Friday.
- There will be some interest in the outcome of today's NATO summit, with leaders expected to sign off on a much briefer communique than is usually the case at these events, due to its truncated nature. Commitments on the '3.5%+1.5%' of GDP on defence spending is likely to be agreed, although potentially with wording that allows Spain, still holding out on the 5% total, to accept.