Euro-Area Bonds Decline on Conviction ECB May Raise Rates Sooner

(Bloomberg) -- Euro-area bonds fell as money markets grew in conviction that the European Central Bank will raise interest rates sooner than thought.

German bunds led the decline and the euro advanced on news that policy makers are uneasy investors don't expect an increase until December 2019. The sources also indicated a move sooner than that is in the cards, prompting traders to price in an 82 percent chance of an increase to the deposit rate in September next year, compared with less than 70 percent earlier.

The drop in bonds accelerated after data showed that factory orders in Germany -- the euro zone's biggest economy -- surged 2.6 percent in May, more than twice the median 1.1 percent forecast. ECB policy makers Yves Mersch, Ewald Nowotny and Jens Weidmann are due to speak later Thursday.

“We suggest tactical bund shorts,” wrote Commerzbank AG strategists Christoph Rieger and Michael Leister in a note to clients. “Three of the most hawkish ECB members should stress the need for swifter policy normalization.”

German five-year yields rose three basis points to minus 0.26 percent as of 8:20 a.m. in London, with 10-year yields also climbing three basis points to 0.33 percent.

Policy makers' latest views could accentuate a recent move in the markets to favor longer-dated debt over shorter maturities, according to Mizuho International Plc, which recommends flattening trades in Germany and France.

“We have been something of a stuck record on this topic since the overdone rally post-ECB meeting, and agree entirely,” with the latest sources story, wrote strategist Peter Chatwell in a note to clients. “We continue to believe that convexity is underpriced into core euro rates curves.”

To contact the reporter on this story: John Ainger in London at jainger@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Ven Ram at vram1@bloomberg.net

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