UK gilts surge after August consumer price inflation disappoints investors; BoE’s policy decision in focus

The United Kingdom’s gilts jumped during European trading hours Wednesday, after the country’s consumer price inflation (CPI) for the month of August, released early today disappointed market investors, also declining from that in July.

Also, the Bank of England’s (BoE) monetary policy meeting, due to be held on September 19 by 11:00GMT will provide further direction in the debt market.

The yield on the benchmark 10-year gilts, plunged nearly 4 basis points to 0.659 percent, the 30-year yield slumped 3 basis points to 1.110 percent and the yield on the short-term 2-year remained flat at 0.516 percent by 10:40GMT.

The UK’s annual inflation declined faster than market expectations in August to a near three-year low at 1.7 percent, official data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed Wednesday, in a boost for consumers ahead of Brexit.

The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) 12-month rate "has fallen noticeably into August, to its lowest rate since late 2016", noted Mike Hardie, head of inflation at the ONS.

The bigger-than-expected drop "was mainly driven by a decrease in computer game prices, plus clothing prices rising by less than last year", Hardie added.

Meanwhile, the FTSE 100 traded tad 0.12 percent up at 7,329.02 by 10:50GMT.