02/10/2014 | 25/09/2014 | Change | Year to Date | ||
BLOM Bond Index (BBI)* | 108.150 | 108.104 | 0.04% | 2.37% | |
Weighted Yield** | 5.17% | 5.15% | 2 | 15 | |
Weighted Spread*** | 356 | 349 | 7 | -74 |
Lebanon’s Eurobonds market maintained its stability during the week, where the BLOM Bond Index (BBI) increased by a slight 0.04%, to settle at 108.15 points. The gauge posted a 2.37% year-to-date (y-t-d) increase, mainly attributed to higher demand on short-term maturities. However, yields on the 5Y and 10Y Lebanese Eurobonds rose 5 bps and 2 bps to 5.14% and 6.21%, respectively.
As a result of the expected interest rate hike in the U.S next year, and the continuous disappointing performance of the Chinese Economy, investors displayed a “flight to quality” approach over the week. This was mirrored by the JP Morgan emerging countries’ bond index performance as itlost a weekly 0.84% to close at 675.21 points.
Investors’ attitude towards emerging bonds boosted demand for the U.S risk-free investments despite the above mentioned expected interest rates increase, as revealed by the $2.3B withdrawal from junk-bond funds. This return to the safe assets’ market sent the 5Y and 10Y U.S yields down by 5 bps and 8 bps to 1.70% and 2.44%, respectively. Correspondingly, the 5Y and 10Y spreads between the Lebanese Eurobonds and their U.S benchmark widened by 10bps each to 344 bps and 367 bps, respectively.
Lebanon’s Credit Default Swaps for 5 years (CDS) remained subdued at last week’s quote of 335-365 bps, while, in the region, the 5Y CDS quotes of Saudi Arabia and Dubai broadened from 47-52 bps and 155-165 bps to 51-57 bps and 161-171 bps, respectively. In emerging economies, the 5Y CDS of Brazil and Turkey also widened from 160-162 bps and 195-197 bps to 175-177 bps and 205-208 bps, respectively.