Is All News Bad News For Bonds? Will CPI Matter?

At times these day, it may seem like all news is bad news for bonds.  Higher tariffs hurt us in mid April, and lower tariffs are hurting us now.  There are reasons for the paradox. Higher tariffs initially helped quite a bit, but overly high tariffs caused a liquidation that hurt both sides of the market. The 90 day US/China pause announced this morning leaves tariffs high enough to put upward pressure on rates via the inflation channel, and low enough to rob rates of the bullish impulse from the recession channel. The lack of finality means we're waiting months and months before accurately understanding the impacts, and the big bounce in stocks suggests there's room to unwind previous "risk-off" trades in the meantime. 

Market Movement Recap
11:14 AM

sharply weaker overnight, but erasing some losses now.  MBS still down 6 ticks (.19) and 10yr down 5.6bps at 4.441

02:11 PM

drifting back to weakest levels.  MBS down 10 ticks (.31) and 10yr up 7bps at 4.456

04:56 PM

Heading out near the weakest levels with MBS down 3/8ths and 10yr yields up 8.6bps at 4.471

 Download our mobile app to get alerts for MBS Commentary and streaming MBS and Treasury prices.