Global Market Commentary

During the month, 10-year US Treasury (“UST”) yields drifted higher as investors digested US Federal Reserve (“Fed”) Chairman Jerome Powell’s hawkish remarks at the Jackson Hole economic symposium in late August. Moreover, US economic indicators continued to show strength, indicating resilience in a rising interest rate environment. In August, the US Institute for Supply Management (“ISM”) manufacturing index remained firm at 52.8 (consensus 51.9), while ISM services expanded slightly from 56.7 to 56.9 (consensus 55.3). The US economy added 315,000 new jobs in August, beating consensus expectations of 298,000 (July revised slightly lower from 528,000 to 526,000); while average hourly earnings moderated from 0.5% to 0.3% month-on-month (“m-o-m”) (year-on-year (“y-o-y”) flat at 5.2%). 10-year UST yields continued to rise from 3.19% at end-August to around 3.45% in mid-September, after US core Consumer Price Index unexpectedly rose from 0.3% in July to 0.6% m-o-m in August y-o-y up from 5.9% to 6.3%), as shelter, food and medical care prices remain high despite lower gasoline prices. On 21 September, the US Fed delivered its third consecutive 75 basis point (“bps”) hike to 3.00-3.25%, and emphasized that it will keep raising rates until inflation is under control, driving UST yields higher. In its updated quarterly projections, the central bank now expects to raise rates to a median rate of 4.4% in 2022 (June 3.4%) and 4.6% in 2023 (June 3.8%), before cutting it to 3.9% in 2024. The Fed also slashed its 2022 Gross Domestic Product forecast from 1.7% in June to just 0.2%, and from 1.7% to 1.2% for 2023. Meanwhile, Personal Consumption Expenditures inflation projections were revised slightly higher to 5.4% for 2022 and 2.8% for 2023. Towards month-end, sentiment was further dented by a sharp rise in UK government bond yields, after the new UK government announced historic tax cuts and fiscal measures. During the month, 10-year UST yields jumped from 3.19% at end-August to touch 4.02% on 28 September (highest since 2008), before rebounding to close the month at 3.83% (m-o-m 64bps higher). 

Meanwhile, Brent oil prices declined by 8.8% from $96.49/barrel (“bbl”) at end-August to $87.96/bbl at end-September, as concerted rate hikes from major central banks amplified concerns over a potential global economic slowdown. According to reports, Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries Plus (“OPEC+”) is considering cutting oil output by 2 million barrel per day at its upcoming meeting on 5 October, which may boost oil prices. 
 

Sukuk News

In 2021, Sukuk issuances amounted to $188 billion, up 7.42% from $175 billion in 2020, according to International Islamic Financial Market (IIFM)’s latest annual Sukuk report.

International issuances accounted for a quarter of total offerings, with Malaysia (41%), Saudi Arabia (22%), Indonesia (12.4%) and Turkiye (9.5%) commanding 88.5% of total issuances. According to IIFM, 12,778 Sukuk worth $1.6 trillion were issued in the last two decades, with Malaysia accounting for two-thirds of the offerings.

Source: Bloomberg, Islamic Finance News, Reuters (as of 31 September 2022)

Data shown is in US Dollar unless otherwise noted.

DJSUKTXR | Dow Jones Sukuk Index
JPEIGLBL | JP Morgan EMBI Global Total Return Index

Source: Bloomberg as at 31 September 2022

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