Bonds and gold begin countdown to US Election Day
A look at the day ahead in European and global markets from Tom Westbrook
Markets are facing a bumpy ride in the final stretch to the U.S. elections, with bonds turning volatile and gold signalling at least some investors hunkering down.
While gold XAU= hits record highs, a confluence of strong U.S. economic data, the so-called "Trump trade" and a renewed focus on the fiscal outlook has pushed 10-year yields to three-month highs.
Notwithstanding a broad selloff in gilts and European sovereigns on Monday, U.S. yields are moving faster than global peers and driving markets as strong U.S. labour indicators have traders losing confidence in Federal Reserve rate cuts.
Since data earlier this month showed a surprising surge in U.S. hiring, gilts and bunds have outperformed along the curve with far less selling than Treasuries.
The 10-year spread between Treasuries and bunds DE10US10=RR is now the widest since July and the UST-gilts spread GB10US10=RR turned positive last week. The volatility is already showing signs of cooling primary debt markets, which have slowed down considerably in places such as Australia.
Goldman Sachs thinks a strong U.S. economy and a dovish central bank in Europe will open spreads wider, with a target of 205 basis points for the gap between bunds and Treasuries and said the election - along with fundamentals - is in focus.
A light calendar of economic releases - save for a U.S. jobs report on Nov. 1 - leaves investors starting to hunker down ahead of the Nov. 5 polling day. Republican candidate Donald Trump is seen as negative for bonds since his tax, tariff and immigration policies are likely to be inflationary - though Democrat Kamala Harris is also likely to spend heavily.
Corporate earnings, especially where companies can describe economic conditions, can also capture attention.
Recruiter Randstad RAND.AS and aerospace and defence firm Saab SAABb.ST report in Europe on Tuesday. Texas Instruments TXN.O, 3M MMM.N, General Motors GM.N, Freeport-McMoRan FCX.N, Lockheed Martin LMT.N, General Electric GE.N and Verizon VZ.N are among the U.S. companies reporting.
Trade was fairly subdued in Asia, with most markets lower.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives in Israel on Tuesday, the first stop of a wider Middle East tour aimed at reviving Gaza ceasefire talks. However, oil prices rose sharply on Monday as expectations evaporated that the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, may prove a breakthrough for peace.
Key developments that could influence markets on Tuesday:
- IMF annual meetings
- Earnings: Randstad, Saab, Texas Instruments, General Motors, General Electric, Freeport McMoRan, Lockheed Martin, Verizon, Philip Morris, Kimberly-Clark
UK borrowing costs fall below the US https://reut.rs/3Nwi6I1
Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman
Related Assets
Latest News
Disclaimer: The XM Group entities provide execution-only service and access to our Online Trading Facility, permitting a person to view and/or use the content available on or via the website, is not intended to change or expand on this, nor does it change or expand on this. Such access and use are always subject to: (i) Terms and Conditions; (ii) Risk Warnings; and (iii) Full Disclaimer. Such content is therefore provided as no more than general information. Particularly, please be aware that the contents of our Online Trading Facility are neither a solicitation, nor an offer to enter any transactions on the financial markets. Trading on any financial market involves a significant level of risk to your capital.
All material published on our Online Trading Facility is intended for educational/informational purposes only, and does not contain – nor should it be considered as containing – financial, investment tax or trading advice and recommendations; or a record of our trading prices; or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instruments; or unsolicited financial promotions to you.
Any third-party content, as well as content prepared by XM, such as: opinions, news, research, analyses, prices and other information or links to third-party sites contained on this website are provided on an “as-is” basis, as general market commentary, and do not constitute investment advice. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, it would be considered as marketing communication under the relevant laws and regulations. Please ensure that you have read and understood our Notification on Non-Independent Investment. Research and Risk Warning concerning the foregoing information, which can be accessed here.
