Piecing to together the price action this week:

The inflation data and the FOMC were unequivocally dovish. The long end traded in sync with these results with 30s up 23 ticks on the week. The short end, however, marched to different tune with 2s down 1 tick on the week. I do not believe the discount rate rumors are...

Dissents

There is little to talk about before 2:15 so I’ll keep this brief. The key focus for the market is on a Bullard (and possibly a Warsh) dissent. I think these are very remote possibilities. Let’s start with Bullard - he has been talking about a recovery that is “on...

Vol crashing (in my backyard)

Hopefully, everyone has copy of the new monthly. As discussed in that document, we see the next 3 months as calm for fixed income. Nonetheless, we will no doubt have some “in range fireworks” as we did last week. Over the last 5 trading days, we went from 2.78 to 2.83...

A train wreck

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Mini-Me

Brian Sack (aka mini-Ben) gave a speech last night reiterating the basic exit structure put forth by the Chairman in February. There was little new in the speech, but there are a few parts worth repeating here as we enter the battle zone on asset sales between the...

Beggar thy Neighbor, Mate!

It’s a calm start to the week with 10s firmly in the middle of a very tight long term range - 3.60/3.80. “Roll adjusted”, 5s30s is starting the week at the all-time highs of 231 and 2s10s is about 5bps off its record highs at 281. I see very little on the immediate...

Apologies for the radio silence

I have been visiting the ECB since Thursday hence the lack of commentary since Wednesday. Here are a few quick thoughts as I jump back in front of the screens. As discussed Wednesday, playing the range is the best game in town. 10s are now back towards 3.70 and vol...

How far will we bounce?

We have been bouncing along the bottom end of the 2010 trading range in 2yr, 5yr and 10yr Treasury yields for the last few sessions (80bps in 2s, 2.25 in 5s and 3.60 in 10s give or take a few bps). Given what’s going on in risk asset markets, this morning’s little...

Fed appointment musings and Fannie buyouts

It’s a slow pre-payroll day with the range trade very much in play. First some Fed appointment thoughts: the leading “mainstream/insider” candidates seem to be Romer, Yellen and Tarullo for Vice Chairman. In all cases this would be a dovish tilt from Kohn. That said,...

Kohn Resignation

This is a surprise in terms of the timing of the announcement, but the idea that he would leave after his term is up in the late spring is not a great surprise. He has been talking of retirement for some time and maybe he did not get a warm and fuzzy feeling from the...