Australian bonds narrowly mixed in subdued trade; weak China’s economic growth could push investors towards safe-haven

Australian government bonds traded narrowly mixed in subdued Monday session as markets receive no major economic data. However, weak China’s second quarter economic growth could push investors towards safe-haven buying.

The yield on Australia’s benchmark 10-year Note, which moves inversely to its price, traded nearly flat 2.636 percent, the yield on the long-term 30-year Note almost steady at 3.112 percent and the yield on short-term 2-year down 1/2 basis point to 2.013 percent by 03:10 GMT.

In the United States, Treasuries closed last week on a relatively silent note despite rising concern on trade war. The U.S. 10-year Note yield fell to 2.829 percent, down from May high of 3.128 percent. Markets now await retail sales data due to today.

In China, second quarter economic growth dipped to 6.7 percent, registering its slowest pace of GDP growth since 2016, down from 6.8 percent seen in the first quarter of 2018. This could further push the investors in China's sixth largest trading partner to safe-haven buying.

Meanwhile, the S&P/ASX 200 index traded 0.23 percent lower at 6,199.5 by 03:30 GMT, while at 03:00GMT, the FxWirePro's Hourly AUD Strength Index remained neutral at 36.46 (a reading above +75 indicates a bullish trend, while that below -75 a bearish trend). For more details, visit http://www.fxwirepro.com/currencyindex