U.S. Treasurys gained in price on Monday, lifting yields, after the Federal Reserve launched a raft of measures to calm financial markets, including a pledge to buy an unlimited amount of Treasurys and mortgage-backed securities.
The bullish trading in the bond-market was also aided by the failure by lawmakers in Congress to agree on a fiscal stimulus package intended to cushion the blow from the COVID-19 disease.
What are Treasurys doing?
The 10-year Treasury note yield
TMUBMUSD10Y,
What’s driving Treasurys?
The Federal Reserve said on Monday it could purchase an unlimited amount of Treasurys and mortgage-backed securities, and would buy $375 billion of U.S. government paper this week alone. The Fed had previously set a $700 billion limit for asset purchases.
The U.S. central bank also announced three new lending facilities to support consumer and business credit markets. The Fed said it would soon roll out lending programs targeting small and medium-size businesses.
Investors also attributed the bullish sentiment in Treasurys to Congress’ struggles to pass a fiscal stimulus package that would limit the economic damage to businesses and individuals from the coronavirus. A lack of swift action on the economic relief bill helped to dampen the mood in equities, with the S&P 500
SPX,
Meanwhile, the Treasury Department is set to sell $113 billion of government bonds across short-dated maturities this week. The new debt supply could weigh on trading for government paper, but analysts say the Fed’s increase bond-buying could offset the bearish impact of the auctions.
Read: Fed announces unlimited QE and sets up several new lending programs
What did market participants’ say?
“The Fed has attempted to fill the void created by paralyzed fiscal policy. These steps are quite significant, but still do not address all of the issues that need to be addressed. The political leaders still need to get a game plan going here or the masses will suffer,” said Thomas Simons, senior money market economist at Jefferies, in a Monday note.