There are a number of threat elements that, in concept, may weigh on bond market sentiment. Tariffs, regularly rising inflation, elevated coverage uncertainty in Washington, a authorities shutdown, and a deteriorating pattern for federal funds, to call a number of. However the US bond market is wanting by means of these headwinds and as an alternative specializing in one situation: expectations for a slowing economic system.
Anticipating softer progress is arguably is the primary driver that’s lifting bond costs lately, which in flip is weighing on bond yields (costs and yields transfer inversely). The Federal Reserve is predicted to play alongside and reduce rates of interest on Wednesday (Oct. 29), based on Fed funds futures.
Reflecting the tailwind for bonds, US Treasury yields are buying and selling close to their lows for the 12 months. The benchmark 10-year fee, as an illustration, ended final week at 4.02%, near the 12 months’s intraday low of three.86% and properly beneath the 12 months’s 4.79% peak set in January.
US bonds typically are posting across-the-board beneficial properties 12 months thus far, based mostly on a set of ETFs by means of Friday’s shut. The highest performer: long-term corporates (VCLT), which is up greater than 10% in 2025. The benchmark for US funding grade bonds (BND) has rallied 7.4%.
The mixture of Fed fee cuts and a rising sense in markets that US financial progress is downshifting is maintaining demand buzzing for bonds.
Traders might be watching this week’s Fed assembly for clues on whether or not the get together will proceed by means of the top of the 12 months. However the indicators could possibly be flip muddy as the federal government shutdown continues to postpone key financial studies.
“With a dearth of knowledge and a still-divided FOMC, our US economists assume Chair [Jerome] Powell is unlikely to offer clear indicators on the coverage path forward, focusing extra on subjects together with steadiness sheet coverage and monetary stability,” Deutsche Financial institution analysts wrote in a word.
To the extent that the bond market holds on to its beneficial properties, and maybe rallies additional, softer financial situations will seemingly be a key issue.
“The economic system is weaker than the market thinks, inflation goes to come back off and, subsequently, the Fed might be chopping charges,” predicts Steven Blitz, managing director and chief US economist at GlobalData TS Lombard. “Will it’s 4 or 5 instances? Most likely not.”
By the top of the 12 months, the Fed funds futures market is assured that the central financial institution’s goal fee will slide to a 3.50%-to-3.75% vary, or 50 foundation factors beneath the present vary. That suggests two extra ¼-point fee cuts between now and New 12 months’s celebrations. On that foundation, the bond market’s upside momentum nonetheless has room to run.
