US 10-year bond yields have been trending lower since Oct 2022 after touching high around 4.250%. The rise in the 10-year yield from the past two weeks saw yields stop just short of the blue 61.8% Fibo level of 3.885%. Yields are currently testing the 200-day MA rate of 3.649% and a break below will allow bonds to rally further towards the 50-day MA rate of 5.525% which coincides with the black 61.8% Fibo rate of 3.474%.
I expect bond yields to get intimidating soon as the bond rally runs out of steam. Here follows the main fundamental reasons why I believe 10-year bond yields will soon climb above 4.00%.
1. Global financial conditions are easing, and excess liquidity is rising. Short-term rates seem to be peaking not just in the US but globally. Once global rates have peaked, it will allow the market to price in a future cyclical upturn for the US economy. Longer-term yields will capture this sentiment by moving higher as investors will prefer riskier assets to reap the rewards on buoyant liquidity conditions.
2. Inflation is becoming entrenched. Bonds are not a good inflation hedge which will further motivate the sell-off in longer-term treasuries. Heightened inflation expectations are the canary in the coal mine warning that bond holders may soon demand extra yield to lend money.
3. Bond issuance will rise when the debt-ceiling debacle is resolved. Additionally, the debt ceiling has brought scrutiny to the US’s fiscal situation which will dampen investor appetite for US debt (safe haven or not). Furthermore, foreign reserve holders have begun to diversify their holdings, while elevated short-term rates have raised FX hedging costs and kept buyers like Japan away.