Euro zone yields drop, markets cautious before economic data
By Stefano Rebaudo
Aug 19 (Reuters) -Euro zone government bond yields fell on Monday as investors braced for a week packed with economic data and a meeting of central bankers at Jackson Hole.
Investors will be looking at euro zone business activity figures and negotiated wage growth data due later in the week, which the European Central Bank will consider before its September rate decision.
Germany's 10-year government bond yield DE10YT=RR, the benchmark for the euro zone bloc, was down 3 basis points (bps) at 2.23%.
Some analysts say that markets will face a reality check late this week, after recent volatility, as investors and central bankers return from holidays.
Euro area borrowing costs have tracked perceptions of risks in the U.S. economy, with U.S. Treasury yields easing in London trade on Monday, partly reversing Thursday's big gains as investors digested data showing a resilient U.S. consumer and inflation trending lower.
"The next few weeks will likely determine whether the Federal Reserve ends up cutting by 50-75 bps this year or by 150 bps or more," said Ralf Pressuer, rate strategist at BofA. He said the Jackson Hole conference was the first opportunity for the Fed to push back against the implied chance of a 50 bps cut at one of the remaining three meetings of the year.
"Pricing in less than 75 bps for the remainder of 2024 needs confirmation that the July labour market report was indeed weather distorted, as well as continued strength in ISM services," he added.
Further weakness in economic data could lead to traders pricing in successive 50-bp cuts.
Markets are discounting 95 bps of cuts by year-end. FEDWATCH
A decline in euro zone count5ries' August flash PMIs, due on Thursday, "would cast further doubt over prospects for the euro area's growth rebound, and would potentially set the stage for downward revisions to the ECB's growth forecast profile", Barclays said in a note.
Meanwhile, an upside surprise in the second quarter euro area negotiated wages indicator could lead to fresh nervousness around inflationary second-round effects.
Money markets priced in around 65 bps of ECB rate cuts in 2024 EURESTECBM3X4=ICAP, implying two 25 bps moves and an around 60% chance of a third cut.
Investors will scrutinize comments by ECB speakers on the growth outlook amid rising risks to activity, especially in Germany.
The spread between U.S. and German borrowing costs DE10US10=RR was unchanged at 163 bps. It hit a 12-month low at around 153 bps early this month.
Italy's 10-year yields IT10YT=RR dropped 4.5 bps to 3.60%, with the yield gap between Italian and German bonds roughly unchanged at 137 bps DE10IT10=RR.
Reporting by Stefano Rebaudo, editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise
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