Eurozone government bond yields have risen after inflation data showed consumer prices climbed at a record pace in October, heaping pressure on the European Central Bank to continue aggressive policy tightening.
Consumer price growth in the 19 countries with euro as their monetary unit accelerated to 10.7 percent in October from 9.9 percent a month earlier, Monday’s data showed.
Germany’s 10-year yield
By 10:27 GMT, Germany’s 10-year yield, the benchmark for the euro area, was up 6 basis points (bps) to 2.147 percent.
Germany’s two-year yield was up 4 bps to 1.968 percent.
The ECB policy meeting on Thursday had pushed investors to bet on a slower pace of rate hikes, but policymaker comments since the meeting and elevated price pressures suggest the central bank remains in tightening mode.
Money markets are pricing in a 50 bps rate hike at the December meeting, with about 140 bps of further tightening priced in for this cycle, according to data from Refinitiv.
Italy’s 10-year government bond yield rose 9 bps to 4.243 percent, pushing the spread between Italian and German 10-year yields wider by 3.5 bps to about 209 bps.
Black Sea grain deal
Eyes were also on the inflationary effect of Russia suspending participation in a UN-brokered Black Sea grain deal.
Chicago wheat futures jumped almost 6 percent on Monday and corn rose more than 2 percent as Russia’s withdrawal from the agreement raised concerns over global supplies.
“Food inflation has been a big deal and any decline in grain shipments from Ukraine is not going to help the inflation issue,” said Lyn Graham-Taylor, senior rates strategist at Rabobank.
“It’s another wrinkle to add to the many inflationary issues out there.”
Looking further ahead, investor focus looks set to turn to the Federal Reserve policy meeting on Wednesday.
The Fed is likely to raise rates by 75 bps at the meeting but is seen slowing the pace of hikes from December.
“We’re of the view that no one is going to be pivoting yet. Any confirmation around that view will be pretty significant,” Rabobank’s Graham-Taylor added.
SOURCE: ALJAZEERA NEWS AND REUTERS
NB: Some images retrieved from Google, will remove at owner’s request.