Bond yields once again edge higher on Thursday

22 Aug 2013 Evaluate

Bond yields edged higher after the Federal Reserve minutes hinted that the bank may be on course to begin tapering stimulus next month. Bond yield that had fallen to 8.42% on Wednesday from a high of 9.24% a day before in response to the central bank's efforts to reduce the pressure on the money supply in the system, seemed inching up again.

The Reserve Bank will conduct open market purchase operations (OMOs) of long dated Government of India Securities of Rs 8,000 crore on August 23, 2013, and thereafter calibrate them both in terms of quantum and frequency, as may be warranted by the evolving market conditions. The hardening of long term yields has resulted in banks incurring large mark-to-market (MTM) losses in their investment portfolio. On the currency front, Indian rupee plunged to a record low of 65.25 after breaching the previous record of 64.54 as the currency continues to bear the brunt of the large current account deficit.

On the global front, US 10-year Treasury yield set a fresh two-year high on Thursday after minutes of the Federal Reserve's meeting in July suggested that the U.S. central bank was still on track to taper its asset-buying programme as early as next month. Meanwhile, brent crude held above $109 a barrel on Thursday as upbeat data from China kindled hopes for better demand from the world's second largest oil consumer, but signs that OPEC producer Libya may resume exports dragged on prices.

Back home, the yields on 10-year 7.16% - 2023 bonds were trading 10 basis points higher at 8.51% from its previous close of 8.41% on Wednesday.

The benchmark five-year interest rate swaps were trading 17 basis points higher at 8.71% from its previous close of 8.54% on Wednesday.

The Reserve Bank of India has announced the auction of 364-days and 91-days Government of India Treasury Bills for notified amount of Rs 5,000 crore and Rs 7000 crore respectively. The auction will be conducted on August 21, 2013 using 'Multiple Price Auction' method.

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