JGB yields rise as inflation concerns grow on BOJ policy outlook

BY Reuters | ECONOMIC | 12:50 AM EDT

By Junko Fujita

TOKYO, June 29 (Reuters) - Japanese government bond (JGB) yields rose on Monday as concerns over inflation intensified after local media reported the government may push the Bank of Japan to align its decisions with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's pro-growth economic agenda.

Here are a few details:

* The benchmark 10-year JGB yield rose 5 basis points (bps) to 2.645%. Yields move inversely to bond prices.

* The 20-year JGB yield climbed 5.5 bps to 3.565%. The 30-year yield added 6 bps to 3.855%.

* The government is expected to address the importance of the "appropriate monetary policy" in its basic policy framework for economic and fiscal management to be released next month, Kyodo News reported over the weekend.

* The move is aimed at reining in the central bank's willingness to keep raising interest rates, the report said.

* "This has raised concerns that the BOJ will be behind in raising interest rates to cope with inflation," said Yuki Kimura, a bond strategist at Okasan Securities.

* Japan's government will aim to entrench annual real economic growth of more than 1%, Reuters reported on Monday, citing the draft of the basic policy framework for economic and fiscal management.

* Japan's average real growth rate over the last five years was 0.4%. (Reporting by Junko Fujita; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)

In general the bond market is volatile, and fixed income securities carry interest rate risk. (As interest rates rise, bond prices usually fall, and vice versa. This effect is usually more pronounced for longer-term securities.) Fixed income securities also carry inflation risk and credit and default risks for both issuers and counterparties. Unlike individual bonds, most bond funds do not have a maturity date, so avoiding losses caused by price volatility by holding them until maturity is not possible.

Lower-quality debt securities generally offer higher yields, but also involve greater risk of default or price changes due to potential changes in the credit quality of the issuer. Any fixed income security sold or redeemed prior to maturity may be subject to loss.

Before investing, consider the funds' investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. Contact Fidelity for a prospectus or, if available, a summary prospectus containing this information. Read it carefully.

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