Global Bond rout Deepens as Oil hits Year’s Hhigh

A global selloff in government bonds deepened this week as long-term US and European borrowing costs reached their highest level this year, spreading anxiety into stock and other markets.

The standoff between Greece and its lenders, together with disappointing data on private US jobs growth, kept a lid on the more than a week-long rise in benchmark US and German yields, underpinned by reduced worries about deflation in the euro zone.

“If the rise in yield resulting from dumping Bunds is compounded into other G10 government bonds by possible signs of oil-driven reflation currents, then stocks will have to take notice,” said City Index Chief Markets strategist Ashraf Laidi in London.

Oil prices hit their highs on the year on shrinking US inventory and conflict in the Middle East.

The month-long rally in oil boosted energy stocks but was not enough to stem further losses on Wall Street and European equities.

Diminished worries about the euro zone’s economy stoked the bounce in the euro, which hit a 10-week high against the dollar. The euro was up 1.5 percent at $1.1346. The dollar index was down 1.2 percent at 93.985, retreating from a one-week high of 95.946.

Germany’s 10-year yield hit a 2015 high just under 0.6 percent. The yield has more than tripled in a week and risen 10-fold in just three weeks.

Benchmark 10-year yields on Spanish, Italian and UK government bonds also hit year-highs before retreating back below Tuesday’s close.

The 10-year US Treasury yield touched 2.230 percent, within three basis points of its 2015 peak.

It retreated from its session high after payroll processor ADP said US companies added 169,000 workers in April, 31,000 fewer than analysts forecast.

A broad bounce in commodities saw oil and copper prices rise to their highest levels so far this year.

Brent crude was last up $1.57, or 2.33 percent, at $69.09 a barrel. US crude was last up $1.46, or 2.42 percent, at $61.86 per barrel.

Copper futures in London fell 1.3 percent to $6,396 a ton, retreating from their highest since mid-December set on Tuesday.

The rise in commodity prices was unable to stop the reversal of stock bets linked to a protracted period of disinflation in Europe. Traders now worry the European Central Bank will not need to provide additional stimulus given nascent signs of price stability in the region.