UK gilts remain flat post slightly lower-than-expected March construction PMI

The UK gilts traded flat Tuesday, showing modest gains, following the country’s lower-than-expected construction PMI released today. Also, investors are eyeing the February manufacturing production data, scheduled to be released on April 7 for further direction in the debt market.

The yield on the benchmark 10-year gilts, which moves inversely to its price, hovered around 1.05 percent, the super-long 30-year bond yields fell nearly 1 basis point to 1.64 percent while the yield on the short-term 2-year traded flat at 0.10 percent by 10:10 GMT.

The seasonally adjusted Markit/CIPS UK Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) dropped from 52.5 in February to 52.2 in March, to signal the joint-slowest upturn in overall construction output since the current period of expansion began in September 2016.

"Survey respondents noted that the resilient economic backdrop and receding Brexit-related anxieties have helped to stabilize client demand after the disruption to development projects last summer," said Tim Moore, Senior Economist, IHS Markit.

Meanwhile, the FTSE 100 rose 0.24 percent or 16.81 points to 7,299.50 by 10:10 GMT, while at 10:00GMT, the FxWirePro's Hourly Pound Strength Index remained highly bullish at 112.35 (a reading above +75 indicates a bullish trend, while that below -75 a bearish trend). For more details, visit http://www.fxwirepro.com/currencyindex