Euro zone governments may face a tougher time selling their bonds over the next three months as the outlook for fixed income markets turns sour, analysts said.
However, with cash from large redemptions and coupon payments being reinvested, and gross supply lower than in the first quarter, the impact on the market should be limited, they added.
Bonds are moving out of favour with investors as a rosier outlook for global growth after recent strong US jobs data is seen bringing forward the day US interest rates will rise.
This bearish backdrop could see demand at government debt auctions fall, analysts say. In the euro zone, that could mark a turnaround from the first quarter where expectations of rate cuts helped boost bond sales.
"It is clear that with markets in a more bearish environment, it will be harder for governments to sell paper," said BNP Paribas bond strategist Nathalie Fillet.
"(However) redemptions and coupon payments are likely to be reinvested in bonds and gross supply is expected to decline from the first quarter," Fillet said.
The first three months of the year are often the busiest for euro zone government bond supply.
Analysts at ABN Amro estimate gross issuance in the second quarter at 156 billion euros excluding bills, a fall of 57 billion euros compared with the first quarter.
The next three months are expected to see marginally higher supply in the 10-year area, with Germany, France, Italy, Portugal and the Netherlands all scheduled to sell such paper. Greece sold 1.5 billion euros of 10-year bonds on Tuesday.
"There should be no surprises in terms of supply," said Rene Defossez, bond strategist at CDC-IXIS Securities in Paris.
"Most of the supply was in the first quarter and we more or less know what Germany, France will do".
The German Finance Agency said last month it would issue 48 billion euros of bonds and bills in the second quarter, confirming a tentative target announced last December.
So far this year, bond auctions have gone well thanks to speculation about European Central Bank rate cuts.
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