Asian Stocks Waver as Oil Prices and Strong US Data Fuel Inflation Concerns
Asian stocks wavered on Thursday as rising oil prices and stronger-than-expected US economic data fueled inflation concerns and bets on further interest-rate hikes.
The US Treasury yield surged to its highest level since 2007, with the five-year note pushing above 5% for the first time in more than a decade. The 10-year yield jumped by 15 basis points to 5.11%, marking its largest one-day increase since President Donald Trump's April 2025 tariff announcement.
Brent crude held its gains, trading at $102.84 a barrel after jumping almost 4% in the previous session. The prospect of higher energy costs colliding with a still-strong US economy is likely to keep pressure on bonds and equities as investors reassess how far the Federal Reserve may need to tighten policy.
Traders have ramped up bets on further rate hikes, after the Fed raised rates last week for the first time since 2023. Tony Miano at Wells Fargo Investment Institute said, 'This is the market telling us we've entered a genuine re-tightening cycle.'