AUS 10Y Yield Moves Near Multi-Week Highs

Australia’s 10-year government bond yield traded around 5%, moving near multi-week highs as markets assessed hotter-than-expected July inflation data. The monthly CPI rose 1.0% in July from June, above forecasts for a 0.8% increase, while annual inflation eased to 3.5% from 3.8% but remained above expectations of 3.3%. Meanwhile, the trimmed mean measure of core inflation increased 0.5% in the month, above forecasts of 0.3%, leaving annual underlying inflation at 3.6%. The stronger-than-expected figures came amid repeated warnings from the Reserve Bank that inflation remains too high and that risks remain pointed upwards. The RBA has already raised interest rates three times this year in an effort to get inflation back to target, while Governor Michele Bullock said after the latest meeting that another increase was “quite possible.” Markets raised the probability of a rate hike next month to 27% from 17%, while a move by February next year is now priced at 80%.



