JGBS: Yields Lower, 10yr Still Above 2.0%, Takaichi Vows Responsible Fiscal Pol
JGB futures continue to recover from recent lows, last 132.85, +.45 versus settlement levels. US Tsy futures have also drifted a little higher in the first part of Tuesday. For JGB futures, this looks to be a correction from oversold conditions, with broader bearish risks still intact.
- It has been a similar backdrop for JGB outright yields, we sit around 2-4.5bps lower across most parts of the curve, led by 5-+10yr tenors. The 10yr was last around 2.04%, but remains above all key EMAs in yield terms, see the chart below. The nearest support point is back around 1.94% (per the 20-day EMA).
- USD/JPY weakness has likely helped yields retrace lower at the margins, with the pair testing under 156.00 amid increased FX rhetoric from the Japan FinMin around the intervention risk.
- Headlines have also crossed this afternoon: "JAPAN PM TAKAICHI IN NIKKEI INTERVIEW: "RESPONSIBLE PROACTIVE FISCAL POLICY" DOES NOT MEAN IRRESPONSIBLE BOND ISSUANCE OR TAX CUTS - [RTRS]"
- BoJ hike odds are around flat for both the Jan and March meetings 2026, per market OIS pricing.
- Tomorrow on the data front we get the PPI services for Nov along with the final Oct reads for the leading and coincident indices. Still due later today is Nov final machine tool orders.
Fig 1: JGB 10yr Yield Versus Key EMAs
Source: Bloomberg Finance L.P./MNI
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RATINGS: Moody's Upgrades Italy To Baa2 From Baa3, Still A Notch Below Others
The Moody's upgrade to Italy's credit rating announced late Friday was the first from the agency since 2002 but shouldn't be considered a major surprise. Among the 3 major ratings agencies, Moody's had the lowest rating on Italy - by two notches (Fitch and S&P both BBB+).
- So this upgrade to Baa2 from Baa3 represents something of a closing of that gap rather than a major breakthrough for Italy.
- From the release:
- "The rating upgrade reflects a consistent track-record of political and policy stability which enhances the effectiveness of economic and fiscal reforms and investment implemented under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP). It also points to prospects of further policy actions supporting growth and fiscal consolidation beyond the plan's deadline in August 2026. As a result, we expect that Italy's high government debt burden will gradually decline from 2027 onwards."
FED: Heading Into Its Final Weeks, QT Pace Remains At $20B/Month (2/2)
On the asset side of the Fed balance sheet, we saw a $25B drop in assets, of which just $2B could be attributed to QT in one of its final weeks (ends Dec 1).
- Instead it was a $6B drop in dealer repo operations vs a week earlier, and $17B in "other" areas that aren't related directly to monetary policy and typically don't have any significant impact on the size of the balance sheet (such changes are largely due to items such as bank premises, accrued interest, and other accounts receivable.)
- Discount window takeup edged up $0.3B to $6.1B but remains relatively low.
- QT has totaled just under $21B over the last month, around the expected pace, though as noted this will flatline in December with a pickup in net bills as MBS proceeds are rolled over into T-bills.
LOOK AHEAD: US Week Ahead: Retail Sales, PPI & Claims Headline Thanksgiving Week
A Thanksgiving-condensed week sees data highlights from delayed retail sales and PPI reports for September on Tuesday (Nov 25) before a Wednesday release for weekly jobless claims (Nov 26). Aside, the Fed’s Beige Book should also offer another important update on Wednesday for latest liaison reporting, with no Fedspeak currently scheduled around the holiday and the FOMC media blackout due to start on Saturday, Nov 29.
- As we regularly comment in this weekly publication, Redbook and Chicago Fed CARTS indicators point to solid nominal growth in retail sales, something broadly reflected in analyst consensus for the release.
- PPI inflation will offer a useful albeit not overly timely update on input cost pressures.
- Jobless claims will be watched particularly closely, both for latest initial claims for signs of layoffs and a notable update for continuing claims. The latter covers the payrolls reference period for November and will be an important reference point for FOMC members trying to get a sense of latest unemployment rate clues with the next payrolls reports coming after the Dec 9-10 FOMC decision (going into it with this week’s 0.12bp rise to 4.44% back in September).
