Treasury yields remained lower on Tuesday following the recent attack on Israel, which has caused significant turbulence in the market.
Investors have sought refuge in U.S. bonds as a flight to safety, possibly in response to comments made by Federal Reserve officials on Monday indicating that there may not be an immediate need for further interest rate hikes.
The movement of bond yields reflects market expectations of future interest rate trends. While longer-term bond yields have been lower than shorter-term ones since July of last year, the gap has recently narrowed due to the anticipation of rates staying elevated for a longer period. It is worth noting that the bond market was closed on Monday for the Columbus Day holiday.
Examining the Numbers
The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury bond dropped from 4.8% to below 4.7%, while the two-year note yield fell just below 5%. Additionally, the 30-year bond yield declined from 4.97% to 4.86%.
The next course of action will depend partly on how the ongoing violence in the Middle East is perceived in terms of its potential impact on the economy. If it is seen as detrimental, yields may decrease; however, if it is deemed as a catalyst for inflation, yields could remain elevated. As of now, it is too early to accurately determine the outcome.