Bond yields tread water ahead of March inflation figures

13 Apr 2012 Evaluate

Bond yields were trading unchanged on Friday, with traders focused on Rs 15,000 crore worth debt sale by the government during the day that is expected to be fully subscribed in anticipation of a rate cut next week. Expectations for a rate cut, which would be first in three years, have been bolstered after weak industrial output data.

Industrial output growth in February, a notoriously volatile index, was a slower-than-expected 4.1 percent, with a sharp downward revision in the January to 1.14 percent from 6.8 percent on an error in sugar production data.

Bond yields also were steady ahead of the release of March headline inflation data. The median consensus have pinned expectations for India's headline inflation at 6.70 per cent for March from a year ago, under the higher-than-expected 6.95 per cent recorded in February.

On the global front, US Treasuries rose in Asia on Friday, as investors' risk appetite faded after China's first-quarter growth came in below expectations. China's gross domestic product expanded by 8.1 percent in the first quarter from a year earlier, the weakest pace in nearly three years, from 8.9 percent in the previous quarter, and below a 8.3 percent forecast. The data marked the fifth straight quarter of slowing GDP. However, Chinese money supply data for March released a day earlier suggested that its recovery might be gaining traction.

Meanwhile, Brent crude futures slipped towards $121 on Friday as demand growth worries resurfaced after China's economic expansion lagged expectations, while caution ahead of talks between Iran and world powers and North Korea's missile launch capped losses.

Back on the home turf, the yields on 10-year benchmark 8.79% - 2021 bonds were trading steady at previous close of 8.44% on Thursday.

The benchmark five-year interest rate swaps also were steady at previous close of 7.53% on Thursday.

Also, Government of India have announced the sale of four dated securities for  Rs 15,000 crore on April 13, 2012, that include, (i) “8.24 percent Government Stock 2018” for a notified amount of Rs 4,000 crore (nominal) through price based auction, (ii) “8.79 percent Government Stock 2021” for a notified amount of  Rs 7,000 crore (nominal) through price based auction (iii) “8.28 percent Government Stock 2027” for a notified amount of  Rs 2,000 crore (nominal) through price based auction and (iv) “8.33 percent Government Stock 2036” for a notified amount of  Rs 2,000 crore (nominal) through price based auction.

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