A reader asks, can the bond market be salvaged?

Every other time, and there have been a few events over the past decade or more, where there was an opportunity to reset it seems like TPTB looked into the abyss, shit their pants, stepped back from the edge, and kicked the can. Is it possible to kick the can again?

Ken

Yes, there are possibilities to salvage the wreckage. There are a number of factors that are weighing down bonds and driving up the yield curve. Amongst a number of others, I can think of several circumstances that can be reversed, which will help to heal the bond market for now.

1) Putin needs to leave Ukraine and that 4.5 year mistake needs to come to an end.

2) Trump needs to leave the Middle East.

3) AI build-out needs to cool its jets.

4) Trump also needs to recant on his inflation comments.

5) The US federal government needs to get religion on deficit spending.

We need to see at least two of these items emerge immediately in order for the yield curve to move back lower. We need to see at least three to four of those over the intermediate to long-term to have any lasting effects.

Lost confidence and high inflation 

I leave it to the reader to determine the likelihood of any of these circumstances unfolding. Perhaps Trump takes a 180° turn after the midterm elections. Perhaps he’s forced to leave the Middle East. A lot can happen. Unfortunately, a lot of permanent damage has been done and it’s not as easy as just withdrawing.

All of this inflationary pressure would take longer to subside. If the necessary prerequisites that I mentioned are achieved, the residual price growth problems could take at a minimum, 12 months to subside to manageable levels. It also could take as long as 24 months. A lot of confidence has been lost and that is difficult to restore in the short run.

Of course, a short run solution would be for the Federal Reserve to begin buying up US Treasuries again, but any action in that regard would be highly inflationary. More over, it would also risk causing a further erosion in the collective confidence of the Federal Reserve as an institution.

The whole premise of QE was predicated on the Federal Reserve’s ability to add debt to the bank’s balance sheet when inflation was low and when there were disinflationary catalysts plaguing the economy. Obviously, none of these factors are evident now. Thus, another round of QE would be easily exposed as a desperate attempt to keep the house of cards from collapsing.

I’m preparing for the worst

As for me, I’m not betting on any of those situations reversing anytime soon. I just finished refinancing an existing loan just before bonds took a big dump. I was able to refinance a DSCR loan at 6.05% and closed on it 2 weeks ago.

I should be closing on another 30-year fixed DSCR loan tomorrow at 6.5%. Currently, the second one is an ARM that resets in 12 months from now at SOFR plus 6%. That would make it about a 10% reset from a current 6.25%. By refinancing this second loan, this would eliminate the need for me to pay down more principal and concern myself with the potential for a much higher interest rate next year.

I’m not waiting to see the whites of their eyes to begin shooting. My financing should take me through the tribulation in fine shape, plus because of my pre-refinancing principal paydown, the two new refinance loans will save me about $1,000 a month in mortgage payments. There are many ways to prepare.

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15 thoughts on “A reader asks, can the bond market be salvaged?”

      1. October 13, 2025 is the day that Trump traveled to Egypt when 22 Nations signed the Trump Declaration for Enduring Peace and Prosperity. Exactly 3.5 years before Apophis on April 13th, 2029. I can’t make this crap up.

        Everyday come the 10 and 20-year treasuries keep putting in new lows and price. The yield keeps creeping up and I hear no talk of providing any solutions. Not one viable solution is being proffered by any politician or Central banker.

        I find it interesting that the long Bond futures seem to sink overnight, which indicates to me there is foreign selling of Treasuries going on.

        The whole financial world is burning and Trump acts as if nothing is going on. He it’s officially the worst president ever. He’s worse than Biden. We may laugh at the notion of him being an antichrist, but he seems to be fulfilling every jot and tittle, while society and the country burns.

        The United States does have a secret destiny. It’s destiny is to get the crap kicked out of it in World War III, along the lines of Ezekiel 38 and 39.

        1. My notes are kept on a calendar that tracks time in 9 month cycles. The gestation period of a human but also that of a cow. Strange events occur at the very end and of a cycle sometimes there is some sort of event that coincides with either stalling geopolitics/global finance (Frances key scott bridge collision for example) or propells it forward (18 weeks following the abduction of Elizabeth Smart) – occuring at 18 weeks. This is known as a “quickening”, when gestation takes hold. I don’t know more than this – just a pattern. I imagine it originated in Babylon.

          The Babylonian numbering system is sexagesimal and the cuneiform images are interesting. I have seen the number 22 described as a master builder number. 11 is described as a master planner number.

            1. Yes. To be clear, I have no interest in lifting the scales on Leviathan to look inside but I do recognize when I see it and it’s works.

              I would like to see the original writings of Berossus, book 2 has the list 10 Kings pre-flood. The missing information has been skillfully filled in by Jewish scholars.

            2. Question regarding China. According to Genesis 10, Noah’s son Japheth Is responsible for the Asian people’s; likely through his wife. It has been suggested that the Chinese culture pre dates the flood, but how is that possible if one of Noah’s sons, after the flood, started the Asian races? I have always found it interesting that Javan is very close to Japan, for example! Javan is one of Japheths sons.

        2. Trump is very destructive. Every successive US President is more destructive than the previous president. Just like the last days of ancient Israel where each successive king was more degenerate.

  1. A great cleansing of the land is coming soon. My fellow European caucasians who have not been contaminated with the modernities from post World War II to 1960s, like feminism, socialism, or mongrelization, will pick up the mantle and charge forward with the protection of Father Yahweh.

    This is the one thing I’m looking forward to. No more Esau Cain Jews running the central banks and media. No more mongrels. No more other races of people overwhelming the borders at the direction of the Central Bank Cain Esau Jew owners.

    Imagine how wonderful a nation will be when it’s just white people. It will be absolutely amazing and all the breeds will seek to enter. But they could never duplicate the greatness of what white people have done and continue to do. They will just seek to exploit.

    These breeds delude themselves into actually thinking they contribute and build. They build with the direction of the white Israelite people. European Caucasians are the Israelites and are great people. They are the object of the written word. A glorious shaking in the land will take place.

    1. I closed on that loan today. I locked in 6.5% for 30 years. The loan I closed on two weeks ago at 6.05% was also a straight refi with some previous principal pay down of a loan at 7.525%. Because of previous principal pay down and better overall terms, the two mortgage payments together are now $1,000 less a month.

      The plan to refinance these two loans was put into action in July. I knew as 2027 was approaching the bond yields would begin spiking and exploding. I did what I had to do to survive financially. People will be renting houses the day before the terrible day of the Lord. I’ll be the landlord. On the terrible day of the Lord, I’ll throw the keys in the street.

  2. A ton of data just came out this morning and it looks good. The price data all came in lower than expected, as the final read GDP ticked up nicely.

    Overall, a good morning’s worth of data. Let’s see what bonds do throughout the day. If the initial gains in Treasuries hold, this could be a short-term peak in yields.

    PCE price index (MoM) (Aug)
    Act: 0.3% Cons: 0.4% Prev: 0.1%

    PCE Price index (YoY) (Aug)
    Act: 2.6% Cons: 3.7% Prev: 3.4%

    Core PCE Price Index (MoM) (Aug)
    Act: 0.2% Cons: 0.3% Prev: 0.1%

    Core PCE Price Index (YoY) (Aug)
    Act: 3.0% Cons: 3.3% Prev: 3.0%

    Core PCE Prices (Q2)
    Act: 3.30% Cons: 3.60% Prev: 4.40%

    PCE Price index (YoY) (Aug)
    Act: 2.6% Cons: 3.7% Prev: 3.4%

    PCE Prices (Q2) annualized
    Act: 5.0% Cons: 5.3% Prev: 4.6%

    Corporate Profits (QoQ) (Q2)
    Act: 7.7% Cons: 8.2% Prev: 0.5%

    GDP (QoQ) (Q2)
    Act: 2.2% Cons: 1.5% Prev: 2.1%

    GDP Price Index (QoQ) (Q2)
    Act: 6.1% Cons: 6.4% Prev: 3.6%

    GDP Sales (Q2)
    Act: 2.8% Cons: 2.2% Prev: 1.9%

    Goods Trade Balance (Aug)
    Act: -132.60B Cons: -116.30B Prev: -118.80B

    Personal Income (MoM) (Aug)
    Act: 0.2% Cons: 0.5% Prev: 0.3%

    Personal Spending (MoM) (Aug)
    Act: 0.9% Cons: 0.8% Prev: 0.1%

    Real Consumer Spending (Q2)
    Act: 3.8% Cons: 3.4% Prev: 0.5%

    Real Personal Consumption (MoM) (Aug)
    Act: 0.6% Prev: 0.1%

    Retail Inventories Ex Auto (Aug)
    Act: 0.1% Prev: 0.8%

    Wholesale Inventories (MoM)
    Act: 0.7% Cons: 0.5% Prev: 1.3%

    1. Perhaps this is why the FED and Treasury are not phased by the uptick in bond yields. They would have access to the August data as it is happening I am sure – by this point in time they should be looking at something way more current than what gets massaged and reported to the general public.

      Many years ago when I worked for wages we had a weekly corporate flash report for key indicators. By the end of week 1 you could see if you were on target for the month. We knew by week three where the month was going to close and needed to have an answer for how we correct it if it was below target. No surprises.

      1. Of course, both deny this, but it would be foolish to think that they didn’t. By the way, yields on the tens and 30s are higher on the day. They didn’t hold their gains. If this morning’s data don’t help, then something else is going on.

  3. Fed’s Williams sees no urgency for next Fed rate hike

    BUFFALO, Sept 29 (Reuters) – Federal Reserve Bank of New York President John Williams said on Tuesday that the U.S. central bank has time to weigh economic data before deciding when to hike interest rates again, adding one more ‌increase is likely before the year ends.

    “With the policy action we took at our September meeting, there is no ⁠need for urgency,” Williams said in a speech at the University at Buffalo in Buffalo, New York. Watching incoming data before deciding what’s next “should provide greater clarity” on how the economy is performing, Williams said.

    “If the economy evolves in a manner broadly consistent with my forecast, one further upward adjustment of the federal funds target range may be appropriate late this year to support a timelier return of inflation to target,” Williams said, while adding, “that is just my forecast, and time — and the ‌totality of the data — will tell.”

    Williams’ pointed comments on the outlook for rates come as financial markets are pricing for the Fed to follow the September rate hike, which lifted the Fed’s overnight target rate range by a quarter percentage point to between 3.75% and 4%, ‌with more increases as the year moves to a close.

    Ahead of ‌Williams’ comments, futures markets saw a strong chance the Fed would hike rates at its October 27-28 monetary policy meeting, a notion Williams appeared to push back on. After his remarks, traders pared those bets to about even.

    Williams said in his remarks that with ‌the economy growing robustly and the job market holding in, price pressures can now be the main focus for monetary policy.

    “It is imperative that we return inflation to our 2% target on a sustained ‌basis,” Williams said. “To do so, we must make certain that adverse inflationary disturbances do not become entrenched, and that any second-round effects on inflation remain muted.”

    The Fed is ‌raising rates to deal with inflation pressures that have overshot its 2% target for over half a decade. Those pressures have worsened this year on President Donald Trump’s trade ⁠tariffs and surging energy prices tied to the war in the Middle East.

    Fed officials are increasingly worried inflation will not get back to target in a timely fashion and that action is needed to ensure that the public doesn’t shift toward accepting persistently high inflation as normal.

    Williams noted in his remarks that artificial intelligence investment is also ⁠helping to drive up price pressures, while adding tariff-related pressures have largely abated so long as the president doesn’t resort to fresh import tax increases.

    Williams ‌said he sees inflation ending the year around 3.5% as price pressures ease next year on the way toward getting inflation back to target in 2028.

    “Depending on what happens with the (Middle East) conflict – and there’s a lot of uncertainty about that – if you think, well, oil prices probably aren’t going to ⁠double, increase a lot again, then that impulse to inflation should fade, just like the tariff impulse to inflation has faded,” Williams ⁠said.

    “Therefore, inflation should actually come down” given that energy prices are no longer likely to create outsized gains, he said.

    Williams told reporters after his speech that he does not ⁠believe the increase in long-term government bond yields signals a shifting view on the part of investors toward higher inflation, while adding that at the margin, the higher yields are ‌creating tighter financial ⁠conditions.

    He also said in his remarks that he sees growth at 2.25% this year and noted that immigration factors, an aging workforce and modest productivity levels limit how high growth can get. Williams also said that he sees the unemployment rate at 4% next year.

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