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What is behind the Treasury sell-off?


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The US Treasury Secretary Scott Besent tried to calm investors’ nerves over the last weekend as the stock market collapsed in the middle of the trade war. “Most American 401 (K) at [retirement plan] Which is called 60/40 accounts. The The They are [only] 5 per year, 6 percent down, “he Has been announced on television.

Or, in simple English, since investment directors usually keep 40 percent of a portfolio in terms of income, the price of reduced equity should be partially offset, as they usually move in the opposite direction – at least according to financial textbooks.

But no more. Last week, the prices of bonds have really risen because the equity has decreased, due to the apparent downturn. However this week they have Submerged Among the signs of bad needs at the treasury auction.

This is extremely unusual, such as market analysts Larry McDonald Point Out: Bond prices have risen during the stock market crash in 2008, 2001, 1997 or 1987. In fact, this double hammy cable Covid -19 has recently been seen during the panic.

If the prices of bonds are read in addition to the price of equity, it raises at least three questions: can markets tolerate this pain? Will the Federal Reserve intervene, as it happened in 2021? And what does the bond market stop sale?

We can’t get the answer to the first two questions for several days. However, the clue is abundant around the third issue.

A (obvious) probability is macroeconomic economic: Investors are concerned about increasing inflation due to tariffs. Another is some investment funds are probably leaving their most liquid assets to meet margin calls.

But another-and also is ominous-bargaining is turning upset because the hedge funds are forced to expose their so-called “Foundation business”The This is a strategy of once-archety Apollo Personal capital groups keep it.

In recent years, these national businesses have exploded – though it is hard to track it. Indeed, the explosion has been identified so much Three of the top five sources Non-tragedy demand in the United States is Luxembourg, Keman Islands and London-Hedge Fund Center.

The IMF Recently (GU) assume that these businesses Worth $ 1TN, Bloomberg analysis is suggested that the hedge funds hold 7 percent of all treasury, perhaps more than dealer banks and one IncreaseThe Slok, for its part, they total “$ 800bn and [are] The prime brokerage balance is an important part of $ 2TN arrears. “

By the way, bond markets seem to be shaking probably some funding trades are being forced to unawind, creating a whiplash effect similar to that One Been seen in 2020. And what makes it worse is the market enlightened as the founder of the bridgewater Ray galio Make serious warnings about America’s growing debt, talk about future default risks is increasing.

The White House insisted that it was ridiculous. However, traders know that when Trump was a businessman, he repeatedly made his debt. Some Wilder Principles floating around the White House include Puttative Debt, Or Reconstruct the koashi. Unaware Situation Being imagined – and the price is being determined.

Then there is elephant in the bond room: the risk of the US-China trade war turns into a capital war, requesting Beijing (now the second largest holder of Treasury) to run from dollar resources.

There is very little evidence of this incident – still. But Beijing has moved an interesting money this week: it has given up Reinminbi Weakening against the dollar enhances the potential of the coin war. It makes other situations easier to imagine. “Beware of trade war shifts in a financial war,” the head of the FX research of Deutsche Bank.

So why Macro strategist Ed Yardeni says Client Trump’s team is now “playing with the Treasury” with “liquid nitro”. It may be that Besent’s admirable words can calm investors, or Fed will interfere-or announce a 90-day break in Trump’s mutual tariffs will calm investors’ nerves. However, the resemblance of the yardens is correct; We can go back to a financial crisis.

gillian.tett@ft.com



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