At the Tokyo lunch break, JGB futures remain sharply higher at 142.19, +53 compared to settlement levels, but well off session bests (142.95).
- “Details in Japan’s February labor cash earnings contained bad news for the Bank of Japan — the pace of increase in base pay for full-time workers on a same-sample basis — the central bank’s preferred gauge — slowed sharply and undershot the consensus forecast.” (per BBG Economics)
- The local calendar will also see Coincident & Leading Indices data later.
- Markets continue to be hit by the ongoing trade-related pullback in risk appetite, although some have begun to stabilise at lower levels due to selling fatigue and profit-taking, including risk-sensitive AUD and oil prices. US equity futures are down sharply but also off their intraday lows.
- Some Asian countries have said today that they will take steps to stabilise markets if needed and Japan has said it will speak with the US.
- Nevertheless, the market are continuing to digest the implications Friday’s unveiling of a 34% duty on all US imports by China.
- Cash JGBs are flat to 11bps richer across benchmarks out to the 30-year (40-year flat), with the belly leading. The benchmark 10-year yield is 9.7bps lower at 1.120% versus the cycle high of 1.596%.
- Swap rates are 6-11bps lower. Swap spreads are mixed.