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.
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.
Read moreFebruary 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.
Read moreThe 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.
Read more2018 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.
Read moreAfter 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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