Bond yields creep higher on lack of action by RBI in mid-quarterly policy review

15 Mar 2012 Evaluate

Pre RBI’s mid-quarterly policy review scenario:

Bond yields edged higher in thin trade ahead of the Reserve Bank of India's monetary policy review. Traders were seen paring off their position ahead of the RBI’s decision, where the central bank is largely expected to hold rates, on account of surging inflation following the sudden spike in global oil prices.

On the global front, US Treasuries prices plunged on Wednesday, sending yields to the highest level since October as the Federal Reserve's brighter economic outlook and recent stock market strength drove investors out of US government debt for a second day. Meanwhile, Brent crude edged down on Thursday, extending losses for a second straight session on a firm dollar and bulging US crude inventories, but prices stayed above $124 per barrel as worries over Iranian supply supported sentiment.

The yields on 10-year benchmark 8.79% - 2021 bonds were up one basis point at 8.29% in cautious trade ahead of the policy review.

The benchmark five-year interest rate swaps were at 7.50% from Wednesday’s close of 7.49%.

Post RBI’s mid-quarterly policy review scenario:

Underscoring its concern about inflation following the sudden spike in global oil prices, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) left interest rates unchanged as expected on Thursday. RBI kept its policy repo rate unchanged at 8.5 percent at its mid-quarter review, in line with forecasts, one day after data showed February wholesale price index inflation at 6.95 percent, slightly lower than the RBI's March-end projection of 7 percent.

Reacting to this, the yields on 10-year benchmark 8.79% - 2021 bonds edged higher at 8.34%, from Wednesday's close of 8.29%.

The benchmark five-year interest rate swaps were at 7.55% from Wednesday’s close of 7.49%.

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