Market Structure Notes — Helmholtz Watson TL;DR The Setup The U.S. 2s/10s curve has already begun to steepen, with long-end yields holding near recent highs even as policy expectations remain stable. Across this series, a consistent pattern has emerged: If all of that is true, then one implication follows: The yield curve should steepen. The Break For years, the curve behaved as a policy instrument. That relationship is breaking. The curve is no longer primarily driven by policy—it is driven … Continue reading “Why Yield Curves Are Likely to Steepen”
Federal Reserve Confirmed Not in a Rush to Ease Rates at FOMC
The Federal Reserve kept rates unchanged in a target range of 5.25-5.50% in unanimous vote at their May FOMC, which was expected. Fed Chair Powell calmed fears during his press conference where he stated that it was “unlikely that the next policy rate move will be a hike.” The Fed tweaked their statement to recognize “the lack of further progress toward the 2% inflation objective” and to signal the QT tapering on Treasuries from $60 billion to $25 billion ($30 … Continue reading “Federal Reserve Confirmed Not in a Rush to Ease Rates at FOMC”
Abundant Marketplace Liquidity and Easy Credit Availability – Bond Market Review
Friday saw a repeat for U.S. Treasuries closing out the week on a sharply lower note, yields on the 10-yr note and shorter tenors went their highest closing levels since mid-December while the long bond outperformed, keeping its yield three basis points below its highest close from last month. We saw the same last Friday with yields coming off their lowest levels of the year after the red-hot January jobs report showed headline growth of 353,000, twice as high consensus. … Continue reading “Abundant Marketplace Liquidity and Easy Credit Availability – Bond Market Review”
Reserve Bank of Australia Does Not Rule Out Future Hikes
The Reserve Bank of Australia kept rates unchanged at 4.35% as widely expected by analysts, keeping rates at the highest level since May 2012. RBA Governor Bullock sounded as there was in no hurry to cut rates describing rate risks as “fairly balanced” with inflation still “too high” and said, “a further increase in interest rates cannot be ruled out.” The messaging from the RBA was “we are not ruling in anything or out anything” and “need to stay the … Continue reading “Reserve Bank of Australia Does Not Rule Out Future Hikes”
Rates React to Fed and Strong Jobs – Bond Market Review
U.S. Treasuries closed out the week on a sharply lower note, yields coming their lowest levels of the year after the red-hot January jobs report showed headline growth of 353,000, twice as high consensus. The report fed the rationale that the Fed will maintain its hawkish rhetoric. Notably Chicago Fed President Goolsbee said that the report will not influence policy in the near term, noting that the drop in the average workweek to 34.1 hours from 34.3 hours reflected weakness … Continue reading “Rates React to Fed and Strong Jobs – Bond Market Review”
Bond Traders Weekly Outlook: Treasury Refunding, FOMC Headwinds
U.S. Treasuries closed out the week lower in response to stronger than expected personal spending (actual 0.7%; consensus 0.4%) in December and Pending Home Sales for December (actual 8.3%; consensus 2.3%) giving rise to Fed officials hawkish rhetoric ahead. The selling drove the 10-yr yield back above its 50-day moving average (4.129%) while yields on 2s and 5s reversed the bulk of their declines from Thursday. This week’s action alleviated some of the pressure on the 2s10s spread, expanding it … Continue reading “Bond Traders Weekly Outlook: Treasury Refunding, FOMC Headwinds”
ECB Leaves Key Interest Rates Unchanged, Short of Markets Hawkish Expectations
ECB kept key rates unchanged in its January monetary policy decision at 4.50%, multi-year highs for the third consecutive meeting, with the closely watched deposit facility rate 4.00%, in line with markets thoughts. The ECB broke their record streak of rate hikes with the pause and markets are also convinced that they aren’t going to add any more considering the state of the economy at the moment. The ECB’s Lagarde did not push back, failing to make use of Middle … Continue reading “ECB Leaves Key Interest Rates Unchanged, Short of Markets Hawkish Expectations”
Norway’s Norges Bank Keeps Rates at 4.50%, Guides ‘On Hold for Some Time’
Norway’s central bank, the Norges Bank’s Monetary Policy and Financial Stability Committee kept rates at 4.50% at its January Meeting. The bank has borrowing costs that are the highest level since December 2008 as it sought to combat persistent inflation. Norges Bank guided it would stay on hold for “some time.” It dropped reference to how “the policy rate will lie around 4.5% until autumn 2024” which could be meaningful, or it could just be a reflection of the fact … Continue reading “Norway’s Norges Bank Keeps Rates at 4.50%, Guides ‘On Hold for Some Time’”
Bank of Canada Holds Rates at 5.00%, Focused on Wage Growth Despite Growth Concerns
Bank of Canada held its overnight rate to 5.00% in January 2023 as largely expected by markets, following up the no change from the previous meetings. The market was pricing in a 15% chance of a rate cut. BOC said, “still concerned about risks to the outlook for inflation, particularly the persistence in underlying inflation” Of note the BOC statement no longer says it “remains prepared to raise the policy rate further if needed.” “Labour market conditions have eased, with … Continue reading “Bank of Canada Holds Rates at 5.00%, Focused on Wage Growth Despite Growth Concerns”
Bond Traders Weekly Outlook: What Would a 2024 Global Yield Spike Do?
The bond market has thrown out a challenge to traders and Fed officials and ask themselves was last quarters rip your heads squeeze rally a head fake in an ongoing global bond bear market? Do they downplay the odds of a surprising stronger U.S. economy than forecast? Labor markets remain tight, while many politically motivated pundits call victory on what is in reality already elevated inflation above the 2% goal. We saw UK and Canada both report stronger-than-expected inflation. it … Continue reading “Bond Traders Weekly Outlook: What Would a 2024 Global Yield Spike Do?”