Global markets slide as risk of war between Russia and Ukraine grows
Investors have been sent scuttling back to the safe-haven government bonds they have been dumping in 2022
14 February 2022 - 12:33
byMarc Jones and Wayne Cole
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An employee passes share price information displayed on an electronic ticker board inside the London Stock Exchange Group’s offices in London, the UK. Picture: BLOOMBERG VIA GETTY IMAGES/LUKE MACGREGOR
London/Sydney — World shares skidded on Monday as warnings that Russia could invade Ukraine at any time drove oil prices to seven-year peaks, belted the euro and sent investors scuttling back to the safe-haven government bonds they have been dumping all year.
Europe’s Stoxx 600 share index tumbled 2.5%, Wall Street futures were down 0.6%, though it was Ukraine’s government bonds that understandably showed the most alarm as they slumped 10%.
On Sunday, the US said Russia might create a surprise pretext for an attack, as it reaffirmed a pledge to defend “every inch” of Nato territory.
Tokyo’s Nikkei dropped more than 2.2% overnight in Asia, while the euro’s currency market retreat left it down at $1.1345 and pushed key euro-dollar implied volatility gauges to their highest since November 2020.
“If [a Russian invasion] happens, the question is how does it happen?” said Jim Veneau at Axa Investment Managers, saying it could be a conventional tanks roll forward situation or a more hybrid style conflict centred on cyber attacks.
The worrying thing learnt from the Cold War era though, he added, was that “anything involving Russia and Nato and you're only a couple of steps from a nuclear [build-up] escalation”.
MSCI’s broadest index of world shares was already down 0.8%, although conflict wasn't the only strain on sentiment.
Markets have been in convulsions since an alarmingly high US inflation reading sparked speculation the Federal Reserve might raise rates by a full 50 basis points in March.
There was even chatter about an emergency intermeeting hike. That was spurred in part by the timing of a closed Fed Board meeting for Monday, though the event seemed routine.
The talk was tamped down when the Fed released an unchanged bond buying schedule for the coming month, since the central bank has said it would only hike after its buying had ceased.
San Francisco Fed president Mary Daly also played down the need for a half-point move in an interview on Sunday, saying being too “abrupt and aggressive” on policy could be counterproductive.
Safe-haven bonds back in favour
Futures markets since have scaled back the risk of a half-point rise to about 58%, when it had been priced as a near certainty at one stage last week.
“Broad-based inflation pressures have given rise to earlier-than-expected pressure for a synchronised shift towards restrictive policy across the globe,” said JPMorgan chief economist Bruce Kasman.
“But we do not expect it to translate into aggressive action in March,” he added. “In part, this reflects uncertainties related to Omicron, geopolitical tensions, and the purchasing power squeeze from high inflation — all of which weigh heavily on current-quarter growth.”
Attention will now be on an appearance by St Louis Fed president James Bullard later on Monday, given he recently called for 100 basis points of tightening by June.
All the rate chatter sent Treasury yields to peaks last seen in 2019, before geopolitical tensions prompted a safe-haven rally late on Friday. Yields on 10-year notes were last at 1.94%, having been as high as 2.06% last week and German Bund yields dropped a hefty 10 basis points in Europe.
The US yield curve also flattened markedly and almost inverted between seven and 10-year maturities, as investors wagered the coming Fed tightening would slow economic growth.
The Bank of Japan conducted an unlimited bond buying offer on Monday to restrain yields there.
The 0.3% drop in the euro to $1.1317 lifted the dollar index to 96.258 and away from last week's trough of 95.172. The dollar was also up at 77.15 roubles, after jumping 2.9% on Friday.
Gold eased to $1,852/oz, after climbing 1.6% on Friday.
Oil prices climbed further to fresh seven-year highs amid concerns an invasion of Ukraine would trigger US and European sanctions and disrupt exports from the major oil producer in an already tight market.
Brent added another $1.02 to hit $96.16 a barrel before settling back at $94.60, while US crude was up 17c at $93.22.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Global markets slide as risk of war between Russia and Ukraine grows
Investors have been sent scuttling back to the safe-haven government bonds they have been dumping in 2022
London/Sydney — World shares skidded on Monday as warnings that Russia could invade Ukraine at any time drove oil prices to seven-year peaks, belted the euro and sent investors scuttling back to the safe-haven government bonds they have been dumping all year.
Europe’s Stoxx 600 share index tumbled 2.5%, Wall Street futures were down 0.6%, though it was Ukraine’s government bonds that understandably showed the most alarm as they slumped 10%.
On Sunday, the US said Russia might create a surprise pretext for an attack, as it reaffirmed a pledge to defend “every inch” of Nato territory.
Tokyo’s Nikkei dropped more than 2.2% overnight in Asia, while the euro’s currency market retreat left it down at $1.1345 and pushed key euro-dollar implied volatility gauges to their highest since November 2020.
“If [a Russian invasion] happens, the question is how does it happen?” said Jim Veneau at Axa Investment Managers, saying it could be a conventional tanks roll forward situation or a more hybrid style conflict centred on cyber attacks.
The worrying thing learnt from the Cold War era though, he added, was that “anything involving Russia and Nato and you're only a couple of steps from a nuclear [build-up] escalation”.
MSCI’s broadest index of world shares was already down 0.8%, although conflict wasn't the only strain on sentiment.
Markets have been in convulsions since an alarmingly high US inflation reading sparked speculation the Federal Reserve might raise rates by a full 50 basis points in March.
There was even chatter about an emergency intermeeting hike. That was spurred in part by the timing of a closed Fed Board meeting for Monday, though the event seemed routine.
The talk was tamped down when the Fed released an unchanged bond buying schedule for the coming month, since the central bank has said it would only hike after its buying had ceased.
San Francisco Fed president Mary Daly also played down the need for a half-point move in an interview on Sunday, saying being too “abrupt and aggressive” on policy could be counterproductive.
Safe-haven bonds back in favour
Futures markets since have scaled back the risk of a half-point rise to about 58%, when it had been priced as a near certainty at one stage last week.
“Broad-based inflation pressures have given rise to earlier-than-expected pressure for a synchronised shift towards restrictive policy across the globe,” said JPMorgan chief economist Bruce Kasman.
“But we do not expect it to translate into aggressive action in March,” he added. “In part, this reflects uncertainties related to Omicron, geopolitical tensions, and the purchasing power squeeze from high inflation — all of which weigh heavily on current-quarter growth.”
Attention will now be on an appearance by St Louis Fed president James Bullard later on Monday, given he recently called for 100 basis points of tightening by June.
All the rate chatter sent Treasury yields to peaks last seen in 2019, before geopolitical tensions prompted a safe-haven rally late on Friday. Yields on 10-year notes were last at 1.94%, having been as high as 2.06% last week and German Bund yields dropped a hefty 10 basis points in Europe.
The US yield curve also flattened markedly and almost inverted between seven and 10-year maturities, as investors wagered the coming Fed tightening would slow economic growth.
The Bank of Japan conducted an unlimited bond buying offer on Monday to restrain yields there.
The 0.3% drop in the euro to $1.1317 lifted the dollar index to 96.258 and away from last week's trough of 95.172. The dollar was also up at 77.15 roubles, after jumping 2.9% on Friday.
Gold eased to $1,852/oz, after climbing 1.6% on Friday.
Oil prices climbed further to fresh seven-year highs amid concerns an invasion of Ukraine would trigger US and European sanctions and disrupt exports from the major oil producer in an already tight market.
Brent added another $1.02 to hit $96.16 a barrel before settling back at $94.60, while US crude was up 17c at $93.22.
Reuters
Oil steady after hitting seven-year highs
JSE slips as risk of war between Russia and Ukraine grows
JSE could be caught in global sell-off as US warns over Ukraine invasion
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