Insights

Equity markets dominated the news in October, with a broad-based sell-off and high volatility through most of the month, despite generally positive earnings reports. Treasury bond prices broke the pattern of responding positively to poor equity performance. Instead, yields rose significantly early in the month. 

Against a backdrop of record setting equity markets, sinking emerging market currencies, potential trade wars (and resolutions thereof), strong corporate profits, and solid domestic economic growth, bond markets were fairly sanguine during the month of August. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note closed the month at a yield of 2.84%, about 12 basis points (bps) lower than where it began. The 2-year note fell 5 bps, as the yield curve maintained its flattening trend.

Welcome to the Experiment Economy! The first experiment started some 10 years ago, as the Federal Reserve Board engaged in unprecedented quantitative easing in an effort to prevent a financial system meltdown. Universally considered a success by analysts, now it is time to for the Fed to engage in the second half of its experiment: reversing course. 

U.S interest rate markets had a topsy-turvy month. At mid-month the 10-year Treasury note yield spiked to 3.10%, before rapidly falling to 2.78% and finishing the month at 2.83%. The shape of the yield curve followed suit, initially steepening before flattening. At month-end, the 2-10 year spread was 43 basis points (bps), nearly unchanged from the prior month.