Treasury yields slump to start the week as fears of a Covid breakout in China grow
U.S. Treasury yields slumped on Monday morning, as fears of a potential slowdown in global economic growth loomed.
The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note dropped 8.4 basis points to 2.822% by around 4:10 p.m. ET. The yield on the 30-year Treasury bond moved 5 basis points lower to 2.894%. Yields move inversely to prices and 1 basis point is equal to 0.01%.
Treasurys
| TICKER | COMPANY | YIELD | CHANGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| US1M | U.S. 1 Month Treasury | 5.388% | +0.035 |
| US3M | U.S. 3 Month Treasury | 5.412% | +0.017 |
| US6M | U.S. 6 Month Treasury | 5.395% | +0.013 |
| US1Y | U.S. 1 Year Treasury | 5.186% | +0.021 |
| US2Y | U.S. 2 Year Treasury | 4.867% | -0.011 |
| US10Y | U.S. 10 Year Treasury | 4.42% | -0.014 |
| US30Y | U.S. 30 Year Treasury | 4.54% | -0.01 |
Treasury yields moved sharply lower on Monday morning, after having spiked at the end of last week.
Concerns about a Covid breakout in China marked the latest catalyst, with Asian stock markets cratering on fears about a slowdown in the region because of lockdowns.
"This week, we start with China bringing in additional growth concern," Mohamed El-Erian, Allianz chief economic advisor, told CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Tuesday. "We are now having both growth and inflation concerns and that's why you're seeing not just the moves in the equity market, but you're seeing some peculiar moves ... in the bond market."
Market participants continued to digest the latest Federal Reserve updates, with some worried the central bank's move to aggressively tighten monetary policy to address inflation could contract economic growth.
Fed Chairman Jerome Powell said Thursday that a 50-basis-point interest rate hike was "on the table" for the Fed May policy meeting.
The 5-year Treasury yield then topped 3% on Friday, surging above the interest rate on the 30-year government bond. This is also known as a "yield curve inversion" and indicates a lack of investor confidence about the economy, given they are selling out of shorter-dated debt in favor of long-dated bonds.
The 5-year yield slid more than 9 basis points to 2.856% on Monday.
Investors are looking ahead to the March personal consumption expenditures price index, a key measure of inflation, which is slated to come out on Friday morning.
Investors continue to monitor developments in Ukraine as Russia's invasion of the country entered its third month on Sunday. The conflict has killed thousands and led to the worst refugee crisis Europe has seen since World War II.
The war will end only if Russian troops fully withdraw from the country, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said.
— CNBC.com staff contributed to this market report.