US Macro: Updated Duration Thoughts

US Macro: Updated Duration Thoughts

Zachary Griffiths, CFA - Head of IG & Macro Strategy, CreditSights
Winnie Cisar - Global Head of Strategy, CreditSights
Brian Perez - Analyst, Credit Strategy, CreditSights
Kathleen Tang - Analyst, Strategy, CreditSights

26 February 2025

Executive Summary
  • As the 10y Treasury yield has moved below its 100 day moving average, we now view the risks to our call for a 4.75% 10y Treasury yield as clearly skewed to the downside. In early December (when we published our outlook), we viewed the risks to our call as fairly balanced. With this, we see the risk of credit spread widening increasing as recessionary concerns begin to outweigh inflation worries.
  • Our analysis shows the 10y Treasury yield is more sensitive to changes in terminal rate expectations (3y1y OIS) on yield-down days relative to yield-up days year-to-date. This is a departure from the overall trend over the past several years during which the 10y was generally equally sensitive to moves up and down in terminal rate expectations.
  • The recent move in yields appears to be driven by a modest repricing of expectations for rate cuts in 2025. While shifts in market sensitivity indicate to us growing concerns over growth, rather than inflation, we remain skeptical that the Fed will be inclined to deliver any rate cuts this year due to our projected path for inflation. This dynamic may only add to growth concerns further out the curve, increasing the odds the curve re-inverts this year.

The beta of 10y Treasury yield changes to changes in terminal rate expectations is 0.68 on yield-up days versus 0.85 on yield-down days. In other words, a 10 bp move up in terminal rate expectations implies a 6.8 bp increase in the 10y yield, while a 10 bp move down in terminal rate expectations implies an 8.5 bp decrease in the 10y yield. In our view, the market is displaying asymmetric risk to the downside on longer-term yields relative to the upside. This is clearly depicted in the chart below (left panel), as the beta for yield-up days downshifted to 0.68 so far in 2025 from 0.9 in 2024 as a whole. Of course there are far fewer data points in 2025 versus 2024, and we also note that yields have still risen on more days than they have fallen in 2025.

Fill out the below form to view the full article:

Please note that we can only respond to valid business email addresses and the interview is already available to clients.

Recently Published

Research
AllCovenant-ReviewAutosUS CR Quarterly Q1SovereignsBasicLevFin-InsightsTelecommunicationsMay GMUFinancialsCreditSights-ResearchUtilitiesCase Studiesshow-homeshow-initiation page-homeMunicipalsSLRsTMTAsset Management ResourcesPharmaceuticalsJune GMUEnergyResearchGaming/LeisureWebinar Related ResourceIndustrialsPoliticsMediaUS Special Sits OutlookConsumerTariffsSpecial SituationsEuro Autos: Barbarians at the GatesCorporatePrivate CreditAerospace/DefenseU.S. Autos Expert PanelCovenantsBondsReal EstateEU Special Sits OutlookStrategyPost PetitionServicesJuly GMUESGChemicalsIranAsia in Focus 2H26ESG-HomeEmerging MarketsBanksEM OutlookOutlooks-HomeTransportationConstructionEMEA CR Quarterly Q2TechnologyInsuranceAsia in focus webinarUS CR Quarterly Q2ManufacturingEMEA CR Quarterly Q1Global Credit for ME Investors
Hughes Satellite Systems
US Bankruptcy: Hughes Satellite Systems judge to order examiner appointment to investigate dealings with parent EchoStar; scope of probe subject to further hearing

US Bankruptcy: Hughes Satellite Systems judge to order examiner appointment to investigate dealings with parent EchoStar; scope of probe subject to further hearing

August 28, 20261 min Read More
Thames Water
Thames Water: Rowing Back On Thames?

Thames Water: Rowing Back On Thames?

August 28, 20261 min Read More
NVDA: More Growth, More Commitments
NVDA: More Growth, More Commitments

NVDA: More Growth, More Commitments

August 28, 20261 min Read More
Vista Land: Initiation (1/2) – Fundamental Views

Vista Land: Initiation (1/2) – Fundamental Views

August 27, 20261 min Read More

Stay in the loop with the latest credit insights direct to your inbox