Bond selloff, Geopolitics & US NFP
1st September
Key takeaways
European stocks and US futures fell as bond yields hit near two-year highs.
Fed hike odds for September jumped from 35% to over 60% after Warsh's hawkish tone last Friday.
Gold sank below $4,400 - inflation fears from rising oil are beating out its usual safe-haven bid.
Lukman Otunuga
Head of Market Research
European equities came under pressure on Tuesday as a renewed sell-off in global bond markets weighed on sentiment.
US equity futures are pointing to a negative open amid the bearish tone.
Benchmark bond yields climbed to their highest levels in nearly two years, with the US 10-year Treasury yield reaching levels last seen in January 2025. This move followed hawkish remarks from Fed Chair Kevin Warsh last Friday, which pushed bets for a September Fed hike above 60%. Just a week ago the odds were around 35%.
In the FX space, the dollar extended its advance, supported by higher front-end US yields.
With geopolitical risk reinforcing demand for havens and a rate hike now firmly back on the table, the currency has strengthened against most G10 peers today. Continued dollar strength could weigh further on major currencies ahead of Friday's US jobs report.
The US economy is expected to show an increase of 55,000 jobs in August, following July's shock 23,000 decline. A stronger-than-expected print would reinforce the case for near-term tightening and likely support the dollar; a weaker one would revive arguments for the Fed to hold.
Oil extended its advance for a second session after the first exchange of fire between the US and Iran in roughly a month.
US forces struck Iranian rocket-launcher positions on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend, prompting Iranian missile and drone strikes on US-linked sites in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. Brent crude climbed toward $92 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate traded near $88.
Gold tumbled below $4,400 on Tuesday, trading close to its 100-day moving average as renewed geopolitical tensions raised the risk that higher energy prices would fuel inflation.
This is likely to keep pressure on the Fed to consider tighter policy, even as the metal typically benefits from safe-haven demand during geopolitical flare-ups. Prices remain heavily bearish, with a decisive break below the 100-day average opening a path toward $4,300. Should prices push back above $4,400, bulls may eye $4,500.
Frequently asked questions
The US 10-year just hit levels last seen in January 2025, driven by hardened Fed hike bets.
The US and Iran exchanged fire for the first time in a month - strikes on Larak Island triggered Iranian retaliation in Jordan and the UAE. Brent's near $92.
Friday's US jobs report. Consensus is 55K, against July's shock -23K. A beat cements the hike case; a miss revives hopes for a hold.