China's 10-Year Bond Yield Up as PBOC Pauses Bond Purchases
Sandip Raj Gupta
10/Jan/2025

What's Covered:
- PBOC Policy: Temporary suspension of bond purchases drives bond yields higher.
- Market Impact: China’s 10-year bond yield climbed to 1.63%, reacting to supply concerns.
- Economic Indicators: Inflation edged lower, while producer deflation eased slightly in December.
China’s Bond Yield Climbs Amid Central Bank Policy Shift
China’s 10-year government bond yield rose to approximately 1.63% following the People’s Bank of China’s (PBOC) decision to temporarily pause treasury bond purchases. The central bank attributed the pause to a short supply of government bonds in the market, emphasizing that purchases would resume once supply and demand conditions improved.
The rise in yields reflects the inverse relationship between bond prices and yields. With bond purchases suspended, demand in the market softened, leading to a drop in bond prices and a corresponding increase in yields.
PBOC’s Rationale for the Pause
The PBOC stated that its decision was primarily driven by current market dynamics, including the availability of treasury bonds. This move is expected to stabilize the bond market in the short term while addressing concerns of over-purchasing amid tight supply conditions.
Market participants are closely monitoring the central bank's next steps, as the suspension has broader implications for liquidity and investor sentiment in China’s bond market.
Economic Data Reflects Easing Inflationary Pressure
On the economic front, data released on Thursday highlighted ongoing disinflationary trends in China. The consumer price index (CPI), a key measure of inflation, rose by only 0.1% year-on-year in December 2024, down from 0.2% in November. This marked the lowest CPI reading since March 2024 and aligned with market expectations.
Meanwhile, the producer price index (PPI) fell by 2.3% year-on-year in December, a slight improvement from the 2.5% contraction in November. While this marked the 27th consecutive month of producer deflation, the December reading represented the smallest contraction since August, offering some signs of stabilization in producer prices.
Impact on China’s Bond Market
The PBOC’s announcement comes against the backdrop of subdued inflation and deflationary pressures, which have significant implications for the bond market. Lower inflation typically supports bond prices by reducing the risk of eroding returns; however, the supply constraints cited by the PBOC have introduced an element of uncertainty.
Additionally, the rise in yields may attract foreign investors, particularly those seeking higher returns in a low-yield global environment. However, broader economic conditions and the central bank’s future policies will likely determine the extent of foreign participation in China’s bond market.
What’s Next for the PBOC and Bond Markets
The PBOC’s temporary pause highlights the delicate balance central banks must strike between managing market liquidity and addressing supply-side constraints. As the central bank reassesses its bond purchase strategy, market participants will watch closely for signals regarding its next steps.
At the same time, the latest inflation and producer price data underscore the persistent challenges facing China’s economy, including subdued domestic demand and ongoing deflationary pressures in the industrial sector. These factors will likely shape the PBOC’s broader monetary policy in the coming months.
Conclusion
China’s 10-year bond yield’s rise reflects shifting market dynamics driven by the PBOC’s policy adjustments and economic data trends. As the central bank navigates these challenges, its decisions will significantly influence the outlook for China’s bond market, investor sentiment, and broader economic recovery efforts.
Stay updated for the latest developments on China's bond market and economic trends.
For more information, visit https://financesaathi.com.
The Upcoming IPOs in this week and coming weeks are Kabra Jewels and Laxmi Dental.
The Current active IPO are Sat Kartar Shopping and Barflex Polyfilms.