Market Review
As the summer months got under way, it seemed as though the fixed income markets would enjoy a peaceful respite from the tumultuous first half of 2018. Alas, it was not to be. The bond market found itself buffeted by economic data as well as global/political events.
Read moreAgainst 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.
Read moreJuly proved to be an uneventful month for the U.S. Treasury market, with one exception: rates hardly budged until July 20 when the 10-year note yield rose by 11 basis points (bps) over the course of two days. At month-end, the 10-year yield was at 2.96%, up 10 bps from June’s close. The yield curve flattened modestly, with the 2- to 10-year slope ending the month at 31 bps.
Read moreWelcome 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.
Read moreU.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.
Read moreInterest rates rose in April, with the 10-year Treasury yield piercing the 3.0% level for the first time since 2014, before closing the month at 2.94%. The slope of the 2- to 10-year portion of the yield curve changed little; the 10- to 30-year curve flattened. Despite the rise in rates, the bond market appeared to shrug off stock market volatility and the trade war rhetoric that dominated the news early in the month.
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