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The yield on Japans two-year government bonds rose 0.5 basis points to 1.73%, the highest level since April 1995.SoftBank Group shares fell about 4.8%, and Tokyo Electron shares fell more than 4%.On August 31st, Japans industrial production rose 0.1% month-on-month in July, better than the expected 0.7% decline; retail sales rose 2.4% month-on-month and 4% year-on-year, both significantly exceeding expectations. Manufacturers expect industrial production to grow by 6.4% in August, followed by a 4.2% decline in September. The much stronger-than-expected industrial production data mitigated some short-term downside risks priced into the markets assessment of Japans economic growth prospects. The sharp rebound in retail sales, both month-on-month and year-on-year, indicates that consumer spending performed better than suggested by the decline in June. This is significant for the Bank of Japans ongoing discussion on whether domestic demand can continue to drive inflation. The manufacturers survey indicates that industrial production is expected to grow strongly by 6.4% in August, but will decline significantly in September, suggesting that the current strong performance may be partly due to advance production or a rebound after a previous decline, rather than a genuine acceleration of the industrial cycle. According to the US financial website InvestingLive, combined with US Treasury Secretary Bessants recent remarks that the pace of interest rate hikes is effectively left to Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda, the resilience of economic growth and consumption further weakens the reasons for the Bank of Japan to postpone further tightening of its policy.The Nikkei 225 index opened down 731.46 points, or 1.10%, at 65,674.10 on Monday, August 31.Japans inventory growth rate in July was 0.5% month-on-month, compared to 2.8% in the previous month.

WTI crude oil drifts above $80.00 amidst a US Dollar rebound and supply shortage concerns

Alina Haynes

Apr 10, 2023 14:16

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In the early hours of Monday, purchasers of WTI crude oil struggled to maintain the price above $80.70 as risk aversion and hawkish Fed forecasts bolstered the US Dollar. However, threats to Oil supplies, primarily emanating from China and OPEC+, appear to keep purchasers of black gold optimistic.

 

US Dollar Index (DXY) reverses a four-day downtrend near 102.25 despite the inability of US Treasury bond yields to recover due to recession concerns. However, US 10-year and 2-year Treasury bond yields remain under pressure near 3.37 percent and 3.95 percent, respectively. In doing so, the benchmark bond coupons extend the previous day's losses and illustrate the market's flight to protection in response to concerns of an economic decline.

 

In spite of this, the recent disappointing US data reignite concerns of a recession in the world's largest economy and challenge the optimists in the energy sector. However, the positive US Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) data enabled Fed hawks to return to the table and renew demands for a 0.25 percentage point rate hike in May. The same constrains the value of the US dollar and stimulates demand for WTI crude oil.

 

On the other hand, geopolitical concerns surrounding China, particularly after the dragon nation's military exercises near Taiwan, combine with last week's unexpected OPEC+ production cut to keep Oil purchasers optimistic.

 

China's willingness to defend the global economy through robust monetary and fiscal easing at home also enables Oil purchasers to maintain optimism in the face of optimism among the world's largest Oil consumers.

 

The Easter Monday holiday in spot markets may limit Oil price movements, but the investors appear to be out of steam, so US inflation and Fed Minutes will be closely monitored for signs of a pullback.