EGBS: Recoveries In Bund Futures Considered Corrective For Now
Dec-09 10:31
Bund futures have moved away from multi-week lows this morning, currently +37 ticks at 127.66. Recoveries are still considered corrective for now, with initial resistance not seen till 128.08 (Dec 8 high). Volumes have been very healthy, seemingly reflecting a mix of views around whether the recent selloff can extend, or if a relief rally is more likely.
- 10-year Bund yields are down 2bps to 2.84%, after briefly reaching 2.88% this morning. The 2.90% figure presents the initial topside target, shielding the March 12 high of 2.94%.
- The German 10s30s curve is ~0.5bps steeper at ~60bps, after flattening around 5bps yesterday. The EUR 10s30s swaps curve is little changed at ~29bps. Given recent hawkish repricing in EUR rates has been primarily driven by the front-end, flattening further out the curve may represent unwinds of popular steepener positions related to the Dutch pension fund transition.
- 10-year EGB spreads to Bunds are up to 1bp wider on the session, with BTP/Bund spread back above 70bps. However, widening in the BTP/Bund spread has still been fairly contained considering the sharp uptick in EUR rates vol.
- In France, focus remains on this afternoon's National Assembly vote on the 2026 Social Security budget. The outcome remains very close to call.
- Ireland plans to issue E10-14bln of bonds with one syndication in 2026. This is a bit higher than expected, but there has so far been limited reaction in Irish bond markets.
- Today’s regional data calendar has been light, with some focus on US job openings data this afternoon ahead of tomorrow’s Fed decision.
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FED: Fed Assets Pull Back, But Reserve Management Buys Eyed In 2026 (2/2)
Nov-07 21:58
Indeed NY's Williams has already begun pointing to potential for balance sheet re-expansion to begin again, with "reserve management" purchases intended to keep Fed liabilities rising in line with market demand:
- "Looking forward, the next step in our balance sheet strategy will be to assess when the level of reserves has reached ample. It will then be time to begin the process of gradual purchases of assets that will maintain an ample level of reserves as the Fed’s other liabilities grow and underlying demand for reserves increases over time. Such reserve management purchases will represent the natural next stage of the implementation of the FOMC’s ample reserves strategy and in no way represent a change in the underlying stance of monetary policy."
- The prevailing consensus is that such reserve management purchases will begin by the end of Q1 2026 if not earlier, with t-bills bought and in amounts of up to $20B a month.
- Meanwhile in the final countdown to the end of QT on December 1, net SOMA runoff was around $4B in the last week, with a pace of around $20B overall over the last month.
- Takeup of the Fed's lending facilities pulled back in the week to Wednesday Nov 5, halving to just over $11B as month-end pressures abated. This was due almost entirely to a $10.2B drop in dealer repo operation takeup, the spike in which last week marked the highest since 2020.
FED: Reserves Tick Up Slightly In Latest Week, But Still Near "Ample" (1/2)
Nov-07 21:53
The Fed's latest H.4.1 release on Nov 5 showed reserves picked up from the prior week's post-2020 lows to $2.85T, up $24B in the latest week but still down $182B over the last month.
- This of course has been the mirror image of movements in the Treasury General Account which briefly touched $1T though settled Wednesday at $943B (a fall of $41B on the week, but a rise of $149B in a month).
- Treasury indicated this week that it maintained its $850B quarter-end cash target, with the recent buildup due in part to the federal government shutdown slowing outflows but also a typical cautionary cash rase ahead of large seasonal expenditures.
- The Fed's reverse repo facilities remained in relatively negligible territory albeit with a slight pickup at month-end October.
- Overall the Fed has recognized that it may be getting close to the transition point between once-"abundant" and now merely "ample" reserves, hence October's decision to end net asset runoff as of Dec 1.
- NY Fed President Williams said Friday morning “Based on recent sustained repo market pressures and other growing signs of reserves moving from abundant to ample, I expect that it will not be long before we reach ample reserves."
FED: Financial Stability Report Eyes Term Premia And "Opaque" Financing Risks
Nov-07 21:31
A few highlights from the Fed's latest Financial Stability report out today (link):
- In terms of asset valuations, "Prices remained high relative to their historical relationship with fundamentals across a range of markets."
- The report highlights high leverage in the financial sector: "Vulnerabilities associated with financial leverage remained notable. Over the past few years, hedge funds’ leverage has steadily increased across a broad range of strategies, including those involving Treasury securities, interest rate derivatives, and equities"
- However "Vulnerabilities from business and household debt remained moderate" and "The banking sector remained sound and resilient overall, and most banks continued to report capital levels well above regulatory requirements."
- In terms of future risks, "A further increase in term premiums leading to higher-than-anticipated long-term interest rates, particularly if accompanied by
persistent inflation, could pose risks for both borrowers and lenders" - And the Fed has its eye on "opaque off-balance-sheet funding arrangements" re the recent voliatility caused by First Brands and Tricolor: "The recent bankruptcies of two privately held firms, an auto parts supplier and a subprime auto lender, so far appear to be isolated events. However, these examples highlight that unexpected losses could arise from opaque off-balance-sheet funding arrangements that may be used by certain privately held firms."
