Fixed income

The bond market recovery has come amid some bouts of wild back-and-forth swings, yet is gaining ground since the Fed left its benchmark policy rate unchanged earlier this month.

Long-dated Treasury yields had reached the lowest levels in more than a month just a day earlier, attributed to investors and traders positioning for the end of the Fed's historically aggressive tightening cycle.

The Wall Street bank recently shifted its bond recommendation to neutral from underweight — for the first time since June 2020 — though has so far stopped short of an overweight call.

Short-end issuance is being closely watched after the Treasury Borrowing Advisory Committee on Wednesday recommended the department skew future issuance toward shorter maturities where liquidity and investor demand is stronger.

Everything from housing to mergers and acquisitions are being upended, especially after 30-year US Treasury bond yields this week punched through 5% for the first time since 2007.

While the company's long-term issuer default rating has slipped a little, affiliates of Blackstone that have a higher one back the reverse mortgage player.

US 30-year yields dropped seven basis points to 4.79%, unwinding part of Thursday's surge that was driven by a somewhat disappointing inflation reading and a weak bond auction.

Treasury yields climbed and stocks edged lower as consumer inflation data bolstered speculation on another Federal Reserve rate hike — even if the central bank decides to pause next month.

The current Treasury yield curve is leading homeowners to pay mortgage rates at least 120 basis points more than they should, equal to an extra $245 a month on a $300,000 loan, their letter said.

While the selloff abated on Wednesday, traders are on high alert for a resurgence in volatility — especially if U.S. non-farm payrolls data on Friday come in stronger than expected.