Market wrap: risk-averse mood lingered - Westpac

Analysts at Westpac offered a market wrap.

Key Quotes:

"Global market sentiment: The risk-averse mood lingered, nudging equities lower (S&P500 -0.4%). Metal prices fell, as did long-term US bond yields slightly, while the US dollar is little changed.

Interest rates: US 10yr treasury yields were volatile, making a round trip from 2.36% to 2.32% and back, but currently at 2.34%. A decent set of CPI and retail sales data failed to boost longer-term yields, although the 2yr did remain elevated at 1.70% - a nine-year high. Fed fund futures yields continued to price the chance of a December rate hike at almost 100%.

Currencies: The US dollar index is unchanged on the day. EUR made a round-trip from 1.1790 to 1.1861 and back. The safe-haven yen outperformed, USD/JPY dipped from 113.20 to 112.48 (a one-month low) but later retraced. Underperformer AUD stabilised after the wage data disappointment but did nudge down to a fresh five-month low of 0.7573. NZD had a brief bounce to 0.6920 but is unchanged on the day at 0.6875. AUD/NZD extended lower to 1.0989 – a one-month low – mainly fallout from the wage data disappointment but possibly assisted by iron ore’s 2.1% fall yesterday.

Economic Wrap

US CPI rose 0.1% in Oct (as expected), for an annual pace of 2.0%. The core measure rose at an annual pace of 1.8% (vs 1.7% expected) after a positive revision, with housing and medical costs both a touch stronger in the month. Retail sales rose 0.2% in Oct (vs 0.0% expected). The core control group at 0.3%, matched estimates,  but a +0.1ppt revision to the prior month to 0.5% makes for a stronger reading on the consumer. The gains appeared broad-based, with 10 of 13 headline categories posting monthly increases."