Asia: Shares, bonds spooked by central bank jitters

[SYDNEY] Asian shares slipped on Monday with investors rattled by rising bond yields and talk the Federal Reserve might be serious about lifting US interest rates as early as next week.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan fell 1.1 per cent and away from a 13-month peak. Australian stocks dropped 1.8 per cent.

The Nikkei 225 lost 1 per cent, as a selloff in JGBs sent 10-year yields to the highest since March.

EMini futures for the S&P 500 eased 0.2 per cent after the index suffered its sharpest daily loss on Friday since the Brexit vote.

Reports that the Bank of Japan was considering ways to steepen the Japanese yield curve, along with speculation that central banks more generally were running short on fresh stimulus measures, slugged sovereign debt and risk appetite globally.

Some Fed members have been trying to convince markets that the September meeting would be "live" for a hike, even though futures only imply a one-in-four chance of a move.

No less than three Fed speakers are on the docket for Monday, including board member and noted dove Lael Brainard. Any hint of hawkishness would likely further pressure bonds and equities.

"The debate on low nominal inflation and low neutral rates versus robust labour markets and elevated asset values continues to rage on in the US," wrote analysts at ANZ.

"Given the split in views expressed so far, it seems the centralists will have the final say for September. Given what has been said so far it seems like it could go either way so brace for a little more volatility." The CBOE Volatility index closed at its highest level since late June on Friday.

The Dow shed 2.13 per cent on Friday, while the S&P 500 lost 2.45 per cent and the Nasdaq 2.54 per cent.

Super-low yields have made returns on equities seem relatively more attractive in comparison, so any sustained climb in yields would likely weigh on stock valuations.

The yield on benchmark German debt, for instance, had turned positive for the first time since July 22 and ended at 0.02 per cent, its highest since June 23. Yields on US 10-year and 30-year paper hit 11-week peaks.

SEEKING SAFETY

In the forex market, the sudden bout of risk aversion benefited safe havens such as the yen while hitting carry trades in higher yielding currencies including the Australian dollar.

The Aussie has lost 1.5 per cent against the yen in two sessions to stand at 77.25, while the Japanese currency was firm on the US dollar at 102.55.

The euro was sidelined on the dollar at US$1.1237 after weak German trade data dragged it down from US$1.1271 on Friday. The dollar index, which tracks it against a basket of six currencies, eased slightly to 95.287.

Adding to the jittery mood on Monday was news that Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton fell ill at a Sept 11 memorial ceremony and had been diagnosed with pneumonia.

Markets have generally assumed Clinton would win the presidency and have not truly considered the implications, both economic and for national security, should Donald Trump win.

Geopolitical concerns had already been inflamed by North Korea's fifth and biggest nuclear test, ratcheting up a threat that its rivals and the United Nations have been powerless to contain.

North Korea has completed preparations for another nuclear test, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported on Monday, citing South Korean government sources.

In commodities, oil prices extended Friday's 4 per cent fall in Asia.

Brent crude was off 41 cents at US$47.60 a barrel, while US crude lost 49 cents to US$45.39.

REUTERS