Insights

Investment History Made - How Long Will It Hold?

History was made on August 14, 2019, with the recording of the lowest closing yield (2.02%), on the 30-year U.S. Treasury since regular auctions began in 1977. The previous lowest closing yield (2.099%) was recorded on July 8, 2016.

July 2019 Market Review

Concerns over weak global growth, the negative impact of trade disputes, very low and negative interest rates overseas, and low inflation are driving interest rate markets.Rate movements in July were generally subdued. The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield did a round trip, rising from 2% to 2.14% before closing the month back at a 2.00%. However, the 2-year yield rose by 14 basis points (bps), resulting in a flattening of the slope of the (2-to-10 year) yield curve.

June 2019 Market Review

The Treasury market rally continued through the second quarter, fueled by fears of a global economic slowdown (particularly in manufacturing), softer domestic economic data, dovish responses from central banks, and perhaps most of all, continued uncertainty over the outcomes of U.S. trade disputes. 

May 2019 Market Review

Rates went on a straight shot downward in May, with the 10-year Treasury note yield falling nearly 40 basis points (bps).  The yield curve, measured from 3 months to 10 years, inverted and stands at -15 bps. Ten- to 30-year spreads closed the month nearly unchanged at about 45 bps.

April 2019 Market Review
April was a low volatility month for interest rates. The 10-year Treasury yield began to rise very late in March, peaking at 2.60% on April 17th. Rates changed course and closed the month at a 2.50%. The “mini-inversion” of the yield curve continued, with the 6-month to 3-year spread now at -15 basis points (bps). The much followed 2- to 10-year ended the month 9 bps steeper.
 
March 2019 Market Review

What started out as a rather staid and uneventful first quarter of 2019 for the bond market quickly turned into a major rally in credit followed by a big move (down in yield) for Treasuries. The Federal Reserve Board completed its about face, with or without any egg on that face, depending on your point of view, and conceded that the global slowdown and lack of inflation pressure diminished the need for additional rate hikes. 

February 2019 Market Review

February was marked by a “risk on” environment, with stocks rallying, corporate spreads tightening, and oil prices rising--despite weak economic growth globally. Although the news was better in the U.S., data were not particularly strong until the last day of the month. Fourth quarter GDP posted a significant gain (2.6%) including an unexpected jump in business investment.  

January 2019 Market Review

The 10-year Treasury rate hovered in a stable range for most of January, but was book-ended by significant rallies at the beginning and end of the month. Weak data out of China and a lousy ISM Manufacturing report got the ball rolling on January 2. The rally ended quickly, as the employment report on the 4th helped positively change market sentiment. 

December 2018 Market Review

2018 brought a host of challenges as geopolitical events, policy upheavals, and changing economic conditions buffeted the markets. Volatility, and lots of it, was pervasive, with several prominent themes rotating through the headlines and contributing to the unsettled markets.

November 2018 Market Review

After an uptick to 3.23% early in the month, the 10-year U.S. Treasury rate fell significantly and closed the period at 2.98%. The yield curve flattened; particularly noticeable was the 2- to 5-year segment which is now nearly flat. Ten-year Treasury Inflation Protected Securities breakeven spreads fell to 196 basis points (bps) from 206 the month prior, as core PCE fell below 2.0%.

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