2021 looks set to register the worst year for the global bond market since 1999, the Financial Times reports. Barclays global bond index, which tracks USD 68 tn worth of corporate and sovereign bonds, has delivered a negative return of 4.8% for the year so far as investors flee government debt on the back of rising global inflation. Portfolio managers largely expect the bond market to continue to struggle next year as central banks move to raise rates in an attempt to curb rising prices. Nevertheless, some say bonds could recover in 2022 if equities begin to wobble on the back of tighter policies from major central banks.

The silver lining: The best-performing bonds this year were all issued by emerging markets, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The only sovereign bonds to register a positive return this year were those issued by South Africa, China, Indonesia, India and Croatia, as coupon returns offset price drops. Collectively, EM bond markets fell 1.3% in 2021 — but avoided a more major drop despite the hawkish turn from the US Fed.

And our bond market should remain attractive: Coupons and interest rate differentials will be the deciding factors for EM fixed-income investors in a tightening monetary environment next year, one analyst told Bloomberg. That bodes well for Egypt, which has one of the highest real interest rates in the world — a key factor in reducing volatility.

THE CLOSING BELL-

The EGX30 fell 0.1% yesterday on turnover of EGP 946.7 mn (29.1% below the 90-day average). Foreign investors were net buyers. The index is up 9.3% YTD.

In the green: Sidi Kerir Petrochemicals (+2.8%), Oriental Weavers (+2.0%) and Speed Medical (+1.5%).

In the red: Rameda (-3.4%), CIRA (-2.8%) and GB Auto (-2.8%).

Major Asian benchmarks are in the green this morning with the exception of Shanghai, which was (slightly) in the red at dispatch time. The S&P 500 hit a new record overnight, but we’re looking at a mixed open in Europe and futures suggest shares in Wall Street will open in the red later today.