CORRECTED-Boost for populists? Italian debt back to pre-coalition govt levels

Italian government bonds have erased the losses suffered after the formation of an anti-establishment government in June 2018, boosted by the promise of European Central Bank stimulus and hopes for detente in a budget row with Brussels. Many eurozone government bond yields have retreated to new record lows this week as ECB policymakers unite behind a pledge for more stimulus, with Italian debt, in particular, benefiting from the promise of more central bank largesse.

In addition, Italy cut its 2019 budget deficit target on Monday in an effort to avoid European Union disciplinary action over its public finances, potentially easing another major concern for markets. Italian 10-year government bond yields hit a new one-year low of 1.916%, a level last seen in May 2018 before the government of League and 5-Star Movement was formed.

The closely watched spread between Italian and German 10-year government bond yields was at its tightest level since September 2018, when budget clashes between Italy and the EU were in full swing. "The move is at least partly driven by the general massive drop in (eurozone bond) yields from expectations of a very expensive ECB policy," said DZ Bank rates strategist Christian Lenk.

"There is also growing optimism of a budget agreement, and a feeling that the European Commission has been less aggressive than expected in punishing Italy," he said, referring to the EU's decision not to immediately impose sanctions on Rome for breaching a budget promise. He added, however, that he does not share the market's optimism, and expects budget clashes to resume in the autumn when Italy is formulating its 2020 budget, potentially hurting Italian debt in the process.

Other eurozone government bond yields edged lower, having dipped to record lows on Monday on the back of dovish comments from ECB policymakers. Germany's 10-year government bond yield, the benchmark for the region, briefly hit a new record low of -0.365% but was broadly unchanged on the day.

Spanish and Portuguese 10-year yields dropped by about a basis point each, hitting new record lows of 0.326% and 0.402% respectively. Eurozone money markets are now pricing in a 50% chance of a 10 basis point rate cut by the ECB in July, up from the 40% chance priced in last week.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)