Treasury yields increased as investors awaited key inflation reports that could influence the Federal Reserve's upcoming monetary policy decision, with market expectations leaning towards a rate cut.
Bill Gross, the former bond king, believes that the 10-year Treasury is overvalued with a 4% yield and recommends the 10-year Treasury inflation-protected yield at 1.80% as a better choice. He suggests going long on 2-year bonds while shorting the 10-year and highlights his successful recommendations for regional bank stocks and mortgage REITs. Gross also expresses continued interest in Capri Holdings as a merger arbitrage target.
The yield on the 10-year Treasury remained near its September low as investors awaited key jobs data, including nonfarm payrolls, unemployment rate, and wages. Economic indicators, such as the ADP employment change report and the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, hinted at a cooler labor market. Weekly jobless claims were below expectations, and continuing jobless claims declined, suggesting that layoffs have not increased. Investors are looking for hints about the Federal Reserve's interest rate policy outlook and the state of the wider economy in the upcoming policy meeting.
The 10-year Treasury yield reached its highest level since 2007, closing at 4.37%, ahead of the Federal Reserve's rate announcement. September could mark the fifth consecutive month of yield increases for the 10-year Treasury. Despite the climb, the Fed is expected to maintain its federal funds rate target, with a 99% probability of no rate change. Investors will closely watch the Fed's Summary of Economic Projections for insights into growth, inflation, and the projected rate path. Chairman Jerome Powell's remarks at the Jackson Hole conference indicated that the Fed is not ready to halt rate hikes despite moderating inflation.