GILTS: Off Lows Alongside Peers, Bearish Theme Remains Present

Sep-26 09:36

Gilts have recovered after initially selling off at the open, with cues from wider core global FI dominating thus far.

  • Futures printed as low as 90.26, trading through support at the September 4 low (90.31), before a recovery to 90.60, +10 on the day.
  • Still, the bearish technical pressure is deepening, with moving average studies already in a bear mode set up.
  • Further weakness would expose Fibonacci support (89.94), while initial resistance is located at the September 24 high (91.28).
  • Yields 2-3bp lower, curve steeper at the margin.
  • Ongoing UK fiscal deterioration continues to limit rallies at this stage and keeps the curve steepening theme intact, with 2s10s and 5s30s remaining within their steepening trends despite the recent pullback.
  • Increasing pressure on PM Starmer is also noted, but this hasn’t become a meaningful issue for markets as of yet.
  • SONIA futures off lows alongside the recovery in bonds, last -1.0 to +1.0.
  • BoE-dated OIS prices ~4.55bp of easing through December, with the next 25bp cut still not fully discounted until the end of the April MPC.
  • Little of note on the UK calendar ahead of the weekend, which will leave cross-market and macro cues at the fore.

BoE Meeting

SONIA BoE-Dated OIS (%)

Difference vs. Current Effective SONIA Rate (bp)

Nov-25

3.960

-0.7

Dec-25

3.923

-4.5

Feb-26

3.814

-15.3

Mar-26

3.783

-18.5

Apr-26

3.706

-26.2

Jun-26

3.691

-27.7

Historical bullets

GERMAN AUCTION RESULTS: New 2.50% Nov-32 Bund

Aug-27 09:34
 2.50% Nov-32 Bund
ISINDE000BU27014
Total soldE4bln
AllottedE2.675bln
Avg yield2.46%
Bid-to-offer0.79x
Bid-to-cover1.19x
Avg Price100.26
Low Price100.24

FOREX: EUR Softer as French, Dutch Political Risk Remains Key Driver

Aug-27 09:27
  • Datapoints are few and far between Wednesday - and it's a similar case for both the central bank speaker schedule as well as Trump's official timetable, which may keep headline risk subdued throughout today. As a result, focus may remain on political machinations in Paris as the government look increasingly fragile. French bonds continue to trade sensitively and underperform broader European markets - highlighting the risks to the French economy (and thereby the EUR) from any decrease in fiscal credibility from the French government.
  • While EURUSD weakness on Wednesday has primarily been driven by broader dollar dynamics, the French political situation will be adding weight. The latest polling from Ifop found a large majority of respondents in favour of the dissolution of the National Assembly and snap legislative elections. In total, 63% of respondents favoured dissolution. Data from Polymarket shows bettors assigning a 20% implied probability that fresh elections are called by 15 September, rising to 41% by year-end.
  • Accordingly, the wider French-German 10y yield spread remains a solid proxy for European political risk, and is worth monitoring for intraday inflection points in the single currency.
  • The USD Index is firmer within the recent range. Should prices close at current or higher levels today,  it could mark the beginning of an upside correction, marking a break above the downtrendline drawn off the early August highs on the 15min candle chart.
  • NZD is worse-off against all others in G10. NZD/USD is back below the 200-dma of 0.5832, but it's the 0.5800 that should provide firmer support on any further phases of weakness. Clearance here puts prices at the lowest since April, and another spell of soft equities could trigger a test. NVIDIA earnings are due after-market, and could have a sizeable impact on headline indices. 

BONDS: Firmer & Flatter As Equities Soften

Aug-27 09:26

Bonds have rallied this morning, with European equities on the defensive and no meaningful concession in the lead up to 7-Year German supply.

  • Bund futures have registered the highest level of the week. Bulls have pushed the contract through initial lower tier resistance points. switching focus to the nearby 50-day EMA (129.78). A break above there would heighten the chances of a bullish reversal.
  • German yields are 1-3bp lower, curve bull flattens. 5s30s back from yesterday’s fresh cycle closing high, but still comfortably above 100bp.
  • EGB spreads to Bunds little changed to ~1.5bp wider given the broader risk aversion.
  • OATs widen the most, spreads testing yesterday’s intraday high, last ~78.5bp, while 10-Year BTP/OAT narrows to ~5bp.
  • ECB-dated OIS subjected to modest dovish repricing alongside the rally in wider bonds, with ~20bp of easing showing through June ’26.
  • Gilts off early session lows given the cues from wider core global FI.
  • Futures registered fresh cycle lows before bouncing. Bulls need to retake 91.24 to start turning the tide in their favour.
  • Yields ~1.5-3.0bp lower across the curve, light flattening bias on the day.
  • Well defined yield resistance points intact across the curve.
  • 3-Year gilt supply went fairly smoothly, although the cover ratio moderated vs. prev. auction.
  • The minutes of the latest DMO consultation with market participants showed ongoing preference for a reduction in WAM.
  • GBP STIR pricing still at the hawkish of the recent range, showing ~10bp of easing through year-end.
  • Little in the way of tier 1 macro releases scheduled for today, leaving focus on headlines and cross-market flow.