Chart of the Day: Here's Why Bonds Are Flying; Patient Traders Could See Rewards

 | May 16, 2019 15:01

While the dominant market narrative is that U.S. President Donald Trump’s sanctions against Huawei is what’s driving Treasurys up, muted reactions from the other safe-haven investments, such as the yen, the Swissy and gold, water down that argument.

The more likely driver is Fed Bank of Richmond President Thomas Barkin's statement that while he favors keeping interest rates on hold for now, he worries that business confidence is fragile. Traders took from that a signal for a rate cut later this year, increasing demand for Treasurys, whose current yield suddenly seemed more attractive.

The proof of the pudding is the fact that yields yesterday dropped 3.4 basis points, to 2.357, the lowest since December 2017. Early Treasury buyers enjoyed a 3.4 relative basis-point increase. Also, if yields will continue to fall, Treasury buyers would still make a profit now.