Bond yields edge lower on weak IIP data

10 Feb 2012 Evaluate

Bond yields edged lower as weak industrial production growth in December reinforced view that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is likely to aggressively ease its monetary stance. Indian industrial production growth slowed sharply in December, its slowest pace in two months, adding to pressure on the RBI to start cutting interest rates to help stimulate an economy that is headed for its slowest growth in three years.

India's annual industrial output growth measured by index of industrial production (IIP) with an updated base of 2004-05, came at a lower than expected pace of 1.8% in December as compared to December 2010. The cumulative growth for the period April-December 2011-12 stands at 3.6% over the corresponding period of the previous year. The notoriously volatile data came days after the government cut its economic growth forecast to a three-year low of 6.9% for the fiscal year that ends in March.

On the global front, US government debt prices fell on Thursday after Greece agreed to stringent fiscal and austerity measures needed to secure critical bailout funds, cutting the safety bid for bonds. Meanwhile, Brent crude slipped from a six-month high towards $118 a barrel on Friday as data from China showed a soaring trade surplus due to crumbling imports for January, stoking fears of a slowdown in demand from the world's second largest oil consumer.

The yields on 10-year benchmark 8.79% - 2021 bonds were at 8.23%, down 4 basis points from Thursday's close of 8.19%.

The benchmark five-year interest rate swaps were down 2 basis points at 7.38% from its previous close of 7.36%.

The Government of India have announced the sale (re-issue) of three dated securities for Rs 12,000 crore on February 10,2011  (i) “8.19 percent Government Stock 2020” for a notified amount of  Rs 3,000 crore (nominal) through price based auction, (ii) “9.15 percent Government Stock 2024” for a notified amount of  Rs 6,000 crore (nominal) through price based auction and (iii) “8.97 percent Government Stock 2030” for a notified amount of Rs 3,000 crore (nominal) through price based auction. The auctions will be conducted using uniform price method. The auctions will be conducted by the Reserve Bank of India, Fort, Mumbai on February 10, 2012 (Friday).

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