With the US 10-year yield close to 5%, long duration bonds start to look attractive
There is one issue though: sentiment on long-dated bonds look too optimistic E.g 1/ not a single sell-side analyst does have a 10-year target yield above 5% for the next 6 months; 2/ Long-dated bonds funds are enjoying record inflows; 3/ Magazine cover pages look upbeat on bonds (source: J-C Parets). The consensus is not always wrong but so much optimism is usually not a good sign from a contrarian perspective.
The Greatest Treasury Bear Market in History
Source: BofA, Barchart
Adding to that Great Rotation theme is this chart
US households account for 73% of Treasury bond buying in 2022-2023 (so far) A lot of pain being experienced for those not willing to hold to maturity amid this bond blood bath... Source: Markets & Mayhem, Goldman Sachs
How long does it take for the FED to break the corporate bond market?
2008 : 1 year of plateau, resulted in credit event after another 1 full year. (Total 2 years) 2020 : 7 months of plateau, resulted in credit event after 6 months. (Total 13 months, 54% of 2008) 2023 : it's been 3 months into plateau so far. Chart made from MacroMicroMe - source: James Choi
US deficit is doubling as US Economy grows shows why yields are at 5%
Source: Bitcoin magazine
Equities tend to sell off with bonds when interest rates rise beyond 5%
Source: GS, TME (European equities in this case)
This chart illustrates another factor contributing to the increase in US bond yields:
Concerns about the govt's ability to manage its debt responsibly. The price of insuring against the possibility of the US government defaulting on its obligations (CDS Price) has recently jumped Source: HolgerZ, Bloomberg
10-Year Bond Yields
USA 5.00% Greece 4.36% Source: Bloomberg, Lawrence McDonald
