LDN - Other News

Selloff gathers pace as stimulus pullback fears deepen

[September 12, 2016] By Abhinav Ramnarayan

LONDON (Reuters) - European stocks and bonds fell in a volatile market on Monday, hit by growing concerns that global central banks' commitment to the post-crisis orthodoxy of super-low interest rates and asset purchase programs may be waning.

German Bund yields rose further above zero to as high as 0.06 percent, their highest since Britain's Brexit vote in late June, and the rise in lower-rated euro zone countries' yields was even sharper.

Major European stock indexes fell as much as 2 percent, putting them on course for their biggest losses since June, and Wall Street futures pointed to a fall of 0.7 percent at the open <ESc1>.

Selling was driven by revived prospects of the U.S. Federal Reserve hiking rates next week, and concerns that the European Central Bank and the Bank of Japan may be slowing their monetary policy easing efforts.

"It's a pretty broad-based sell-off on an increasing view that perhaps central banks are going to draw back from providing ever more easing," said RBC European economist Cathal Kennedy.

"The BOJ and the ECB ... are questioning the effectiveness of their own policy. Add to this an increasing probability that the Fed will raise rates sooner rather than later."

The fear of another "flash crash" such as happened last year - when 10-year Bunds rose from 0.16 percent in late April to 0.77 percent in just over two weeks, may also be preying on investors' minds.

"Most focus at the moment is on a possible re-think by central banks and a move away from aggressive easing and the possibility of a new sell off," said Jaime Costero Denche, a bond strategist at BBVA.

"I don't think a sell-off such as last May (2015) is likely, but that is the market fear at the moment," he said.

Earlier, Asian shares suffered their sharpest setback since June as investors were rattled by rising bond yields and talk that U.S. rates might rise as early as next week.

Hong Kong's benchmark stock index fell more than 3 percent, its biggest one-day drop in seven months.

The sell-off there also followed reports that the Bank of Japan may look to steepen the Japanese yield curve at a policy review this month, with markets worried that, if it goes down that path, tapering buying of long-dated bonds may be among the options.

Some Fed members have been talking up the September meeting as being "live" for a rate hike, even though futures only imply a one-in-four chance of a move then.

Three more Fed officials are expected to speak later on Monday, including board member and noted dove Lael Brainard, and any hint of hawkishness would likely further pressure bonds and equities.

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Passersby walk past in front of electronic boards showing Japan's Nikkei share average (L), the Japanese yen's exchange rate against the U.S. dollar (C), British pound (R) and Euro (2nd R) outside a brokerage in Tokyo, Japan, July 6, 2016. REUTERS/Issei Kato - RTX2JVPG

U.S. dollar at 102.06.

"Market participants are wondering if maybe she (Brainard) is being wheeled out to give the market one last warning of a rate hike at next week's meeting," said Marshall Gittler, head of research at broker FXPRIMUS.

"The thinking is that if someone as dovish as she starts talking like a hawk, people will notice. Her speech will be closely examined."

Such risks led Wall Street's fear gauge, the VIX index , to its highest close since late June on Friday. The Dow shed 2.13 percent on Friday, while the S&P 500 lost 2.45 percent and the Nasdaq 2.54 percent.

SEEKING SAFETY

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

The Aussie has lost 2.25 percent against the yen in two sessions to stand at 76.52, while the Japanese currency was firm on the

The euro fell marginally against the dollar to $1.1220 after weak German trade data dragged it down on Friday from a high of $1.1285. The dollar index , which tracks it against a basket of six currencies, was up marginally to 95.364.

Adding to Monday's jittery mood, Democratic presidential 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 her rival Donald Trump prevail.

Oil prices extended Friday's 4 percent fall in Asia after reports showed increasing drilling activity in the United States, indicating that producers can operate profitably around current levels and bring on new supply. [O/R]

Brent crude was off 82 cents at $47.18 a barrel, while U.S. crude lost 85 cents to $45.03.

(Additional reporting by Wayne Cole in Sydney; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)

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