Archive for February, 2014

Liability Driven Investors Buy Bonds

Tuesday, February 4th, 2014

This story is on Bloomberg early this morning and describes and discusses a phenomenon which is one key factor supporting Long Bonds and limiting any increase in rates. Last year was a stellar year for equities in many markets and the UK enjoyed the fruits of that rally. That rally ...

A Whiff Of Deflation In the Corporate Air

Monday, February 3rd, 2014

I think the classic definition of deflation includes the situation in which corporations have lost pricing power. Here is a long WSJ piece on an eclectic group of American companies which confront that distasteful situation. Via the WSJ: Firms Pinched by Pressure to Hold Down Their Prices Low Prices Keep a Lid on ...

Painful Exit

Monday, February 3rd, 2014

Richard Gilhooly is a friend and former colleague. He is an interest rate strategist at TD Securities and this is his entire end of day piece to clients. He makes a very compelling case that the pain is not yet over and risk assets will be not be in vogue ...

Yield Curve: Pretty Parallel Shift

Monday, February 3rd, 2014

The yield curve has not shifted very dramatically today even with the sharp drop in rates. The 5s 10s spread is 114.8 basis points at the moment versus 115.8 at 600AM this morning. The 10s 30s spread is 0.1 basis points wider at 96 basis points and 5s 30s at ...

Research Roundup Via Bloomberg

Monday, February 3rd, 2014

Via the Good Folks at Bloomberg: RATES RESEARCH ROUNDUP: UST Yield, Positioning Views 2014-02-03 17:47:52.239 GMT By Monika Grabek Feb. 3 (Bloomberg) --  Views on 10Y UST yields following last week’s FOMC taper announcement as focus shifts to January payrolls report on Friday. * Barclays * Maintain short duration amid EM concerns in intermediate sector via current 7s * Payroll ...

Treasury market Update

Monday, February 3rd, 2014

The bond market has rallied sharply over the last several hours as a confluence of factors drives investors to the safe sanctuary of fixed income. When I wrote early this morning I noted that the emerging market currencies were depressed but statically so. That is not the case now. The ...

Debt Ceiling Agonies

Monday, February 3rd, 2014

Secretary of the Treasury Lew has written to Congress that we will hit debt ceiling by the end of month and that  quickly thereafter the till will be empty. In previous iterations of this kabuki dance the Treasury could take steps to extend the deadline at which the fisc is ...

Swap Spreads

Monday, February 3rd, 2014

Swap spreads are unchanged to maybe 1/4 basis point tighter in the belly of the curve. I have heard of prop traders receiving 10 year spreads and paying 30 year spreads. Black box types are just payers in the belly.

Bernanke to Brookings

Monday, February 3rd, 2014

Via Marginal Revolution.

Credit Spreads

Monday, February 3rd, 2014

Credit Spreads are mixed this morning. bank and finance paper is one basis point to two basis points tighter. Industrials are unchanged while some of the high beta exploration and tech names are one basis points tighter. I have not heard of any issuance at this hour and one syndicate ...