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U.K. bond yields spiked higher while Germany’s rose as the Bank of England responded to above 5% inflation with a benchmark interest rate hike while the European Central Bank’s president flagged inflation worries even as it kept rates in negative territory.
The yield on the 10-year U.K. gilt TMBMKGB-10Y, 1.363% rose to 1.34% from 1.26% after the Bank of England made its second consecutive rate increase, taking the bank rate to 0.5%. While the rate hike was not a surprise, markets hadn’t anticipated four members of the nine-member monetary policy committee would support a half-point increase.
The yield on the 10-year German bund TMBMKDE-10Y, 0.112% also gained ground, rising to 0.11% from 0.04% after European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde declined to reiterate her December comment that interest rate hikes this year were unlikely.
Lagarde’s comments evaporated gains for the British pound GBPEUR, -0.53% vs. the euro, while the euro EURUSD, +0.58% rose to $1.1371.
All of the major European stock-market benchmarks were negative in afternoon trade, with the Stoxx Europe 600 SXXP, -1.36% slipping 1.2%.
Catering group Compass CPG, +6.08% jumped 8% after reporting a 39% surge in organic revenue growth in its fiscal first quarter.
SKF SKF.B, -8.44% slumped as the Swedish ball-bearings maker reported a core profit below expectations. ING INGA, -5.20% also dropped as the Dutch lender recorded a weaker profit than analysts estimated.
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