Will Bond Yields Decline Due to Easing Inflation and Rate Cuts?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- 10-year government bond yields expected to decline.
- Crisil forecasts yields between 6.46% and 6.56% by October 31.
- Expect a policy rate cut from the RBI.
- SDL yields predicted to drop by 8 to 10 bps.
- CPI inflation projected to ease to 3.2% by fiscal 2026.
New Delhi, Oct 14 (IANS) The benchmark 10-year government bond yields are projected to experience a slight decrease in the upcoming months, influenced by benign inflation, decreasing oil prices, and potential monetary easing from the Reserve Bank of India, according to a report released on Tuesday.
A report by Crisil Intelligence predicts the 10-year G-sec yield will range from 6.46 percent to 6.56 percent by October 31 and from 6.39 percent to 6.49 percent by December 31.
In a similar vein, SDL yields are anticipated to drop by 8 to 10 bps over the same period. Corporate bond yields might also see a decline of 6 to 10 bps during this timeframe, the report stated.
Additionally, Crisil forecasts that the RBI’s Monetary Policy Committee is likely to further reduce the policy rate in this fiscal year, driven by trends in GDP growth and inflation.
Analysts have indicated that the one-month outlook on bond yields is influenced by easing inflation and stable oil prices, which counterbalance the effects of geopolitical uncertainties and decelerating global growth.
Other elements impacting the yield could include market liquidity, renegotiation of US tariffs, foreign portfolio investor (FPI) inflows, depreciation of the rupee, decisions by the US Federal Open Market Committee, global uncertainties, and expected borrowings from both state and central governments.
During its meeting on October 1, the MPC held the repo rate steady at 5.50 percent and adopted a neutral stance, indicating potential for future rate cuts. Following this, the 10-year benchmark 6.33 percent GS 2035 finished at 6.52 percent.
Trading volumes for G-secs rose 9 percent month-on-month in September, while T-bill trading increased by 11 percent. Conversely, trading volume for SDLs saw a decline of 23 percent, while corporate bonds increased by 13.31 percent. Anticipated GST rationalization and improved direct tax collections are expected to enhance state revenues, alleviating supply-demand pressures in the market, as noted in the report.
Crisil Intelligence projects that CPI inflation will ease to 3.2 percent in fiscal 2026, down from 4.6 percent last year.