Global Bonds Are Reeling as Oil Surge Renews Inflation Threat

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Or sign-in if you have an account.hr3hn1qp95w4n}fl4pmsk2ya_media_dl_2.png Bloomberg(Bloomberg) — Global bonds are being pummeled by the latest resurgence in energy prices, delivering losses to investors who bet the worst of this year’s rout was over and teeing up credibility tests for central bankers.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLYSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman, and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESCreate an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountBenchmark UK gilt yields this week set their longest period of daily closes above 5% in almost two decades, Germany’s 10-year yield is at the highest since 2011, while their Japanese peers are close to levels last seen in the 1990s. The US 30-year yield is just below the most since 2007, while shorter-maturity Treasury yields this week hit their highest levels in more than a year. Such is the extent of the selloff that the average yield on the Bloomberg Global Treasury Index — which tracks government bonds of investment-grade countries — has surged to 3.68%, surpassing a peak from three years ago to reach the highest since the global financial crisis in 2008. The benchmark is currently set for its biggest monthly loss since March.Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againThe simultaneous pressure on both front- and long-end yields comes ahead of a weekend that may deliver more geopolitical headlines. There are also a series of key central bank decisions due next week, including the Federal Reserve, Bank of Japan and Bank of England.A further selloff in bond markets would add to concern that global debt levels are becoming unsustainable, push up global corporate borrowing costs and risk spurring a rotation away from stocks. “There are many of the same forces at play,” Torsten Slok, chief economist at Apollo Global Management Inc. in New York, said of yields rising across sovereign debt markets. “Oil prices are going up. That creates problems for the Bank of England, that creates problems for the Fed and, by the way, also creates problems for the European Central Bank.”Global debt markets have been battered this year by surging energy prices caused by the conflict in the Middle East. While crude tumbled in June as a ceasefire between Iran and the US appeared to take hold, renewed hostilities sent oil prices higher again this month — with Brent climbing above $100 a barrel on Thursday.The bond market has also been pressured by US economic resilience, with the jobs market and growth figures both remaining solid. That’s helped shift the expectation for Fed monetary policy this year to hikes from cuts. Traders are also coming to grips with new Chairman Kevin Warsh’s revamp of Fed communications designed to provide less forward guidance — raising the prospect that any change in policy may come sooner than anticipated. Bets on a rate increase at the Fed’s July 28-29 policy meeting have risen, with the market-implied probability now standing at a one-in-three chance.“We know that Warsh does not want to provide the market with forward guidance, which is fine,” said Mark Cabana, head of US rates strategy at Bank of America. “But then the market has greater ability to price the outcome that it thinks the Fed should do, or price an outcome that perhaps will force the Fed to consider hiking.”This advertisement has not loaded yet.This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.The reduction in forward guidance from the Fed may mean its next decision may be a surprise whichever way it goes. More than anything, Warsh and his colleagues need to convince the market that the central bank has inflation under control. Bond funds are still reeling after global policymakers were caught off guard by the surge in price pressures following the coronavirus pandemic. Bloomberg’s global bond benchmark remains about 20% below its peak set in early 2021. “A hike would push the market to reassess the terminal rate higher, flattening the yield curve,” analysts at Barclays Plc including Anshul Pradhan wrote in a research note on Thursday. “An on-hold decision, if not explained well, could likely lead to higher long-term rates.”Bonds are also sliding in Asia. Japan’s 10-year yields have been climbing on concern the central bank isn’t tightening policy fast enough to quell inflationary pressure driven by a weakening yen. That’s despite policymakers signaling they are open to quickening the pace of rate hikes ahead of their meeting next week. Traders in the UK will be focused on the Bank of England’s forecasts and Governor Andrew Bailey’s commentary to confirm expectations of two hikes by year-end. The central bank is weighing higher energy-driven inflation risks against a tepid labor market and sluggish growth. Australia’s benchmark yields are the highest in the developed world and there’s a risk they will keep climbing. Inflation data next week and a speech by Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Michele Bullock may cement expectations the policy rate will rise for a fourth time this year.“It’s a tricky situation for central banks, because all the hard data is backward-looking now,” said Pooja Kumra, a strategist at TD Securities in London. “They are in a tough place, and it’s a global situation right now.”One casualty is BlackRock Inc.’s iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF, widely-used by investors to access the performance of longer maturity US government debt. The exchange-traded fund has fallen almost 5% over the past month, and has now lost more than half its value since 2020.“We think we’ve entered a new macro regime,” said Atsi Sheth, chief credit officer at Moody’s Ratings in New York. That means “structurally higher inflation, higher interest rates as a result, but also wider fiscal deficits, and the possibility that the global uncertainty that you see will be socialized further and fall onto the government balance sheet.”—With assistance from Matthew Burgess.Notice for the Postmedia NetworkThis website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.