Bond Prices: U.S. And Greek Uncertainty Creating A Tug-Of-War by LPL Financial
Key Takeaways
- Lingering uncertainty over Greece, U.S. economic growth, and the Fed may continue to create a tug-of-war on bond prices that will likely continue to lead to a low-return environment.
- We believe additional bond market strength is likely limited.
Bond Prices Tug-Of-War
The bond market tried to end the month of May on a high note but did not quite make the mark. The last 10 days of May 2015 witnessed fairly steady improvement in high-quality bond prices after a difficult five weeks, but it was still not enough to offset losses for the month. The broad Barclays Aggregate Bond Index still finished 0.24% lower in May and posted consecutive monthly declines for the first time since the last two months of 2013.
However, unlike late 2013, we do not expect a repeat of the 2014 bond rally that followed, but rather a continuation of the tug-of-war on prices that has been evident so far in 2015. The first day of June 2015 was a reminder of the push-and-pull on bond prices as the Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) Manufacturing Survey report was stronger than expected. The ISM result appeared to contrast with growing fears about second quarter 2015 economic growth and led some Wall Street economists to boost their expectations of growth for the second quarter.
Focus now shifts to the employment report due out Friday, June 5, 2015, as the next clue to the extent of a second quarter bounce back. The monthly employment report and bond prices and yields have moved in sync over the past several months [Figure 1]. While far from an exact relationship, bond yields and monthly total payrolls have, directionally, moved together, with stronger monthly payrolls corresponding with higher yields and vice versa. For the December 2014 jobs report, which was released in early January, the 10-year Treasury yield may have overshot to the downside but the directional relationship still held. Current bond yields already reflect an anticipated gain of just over 200,000 in total payrolls. Bond prices and yields may take their cues from monthly payrolls, either surging notably above or falling substantially below the consensus forecast of 227,000.
Despite bond yields and monthly jobs gains moving in tandem, changes to bond yields have been relatively limited. The 10-year Treasury yield has fluctuated within a range of approximately 1.7% to 2.3% since late 2014. Friday’s jobs report is just one factor in the push and pull on bond prices. Others include:
- Greece. Friday, June 5, 2015, also marks the date of a key Greek payment to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) (see our Weekly Market Commentary, “The Greek Drama,” June 1, 2015). Without a resolution between the Greek government and Eurozone and International Monetary Fund (IMF) officials before then, Greece may default, as it likely does not have sufficient cash to make the payment. An agreement will pave the way for additional bailout payments and alleviate a cash crunch. Throughout 2015, Treasury prices have been both pressured and supported by the progress of Greek negotiations, as a default may boost demand for high-quality assets such as Treasuries. Even if a last minute deal is reached, an agreement is likely to merely postpone potential default risks and challenges to the European financial system. On a positive note, the European economy and financial system is much better prepared to handle a Greek default now, and Greek creditors consist almost exclusively of central banks and the IMF, not private investors.
- Economic growth. Just as expectations for second quarter growth were beginning to fall below 2% for the second quarter, a strong ISM report on manufacturing activity, released Monday, June 1, 2015, led to forecasts being revised higher. While we continue to believe the economy could grow at a 3% pace over the remainder of 2015, data remain inconclusive on the extent of a bounce back from a depressed first quarter.
- Federal Reserve (Fed) rate hikes. Much of the good news about a delay and slower pace of rate hikes is largely priced into the bond market, as measured by fed fund futures. A first rate hike is almost fully priced in for December 2015, but a first rate increase is still a coin flip probability for September.
Lingering uncertainty over the above-mentioned issues may continue to create a tug-of-war on bond prices that will likely continue to lead to a low-return environment [Figure 2]. High-quality bond prices declined in May but year-to-date performance is still positive. Lower-rated bonds may continue to benefit from their higher yields and less sensitivity to interest rates.
Inflation expectations, both domestically and in Europe, trended lower in May, but the year-to-date trend is clearly higher [Figure 3]. Wage data in the May employment report may dictate whether inflation expectations rebound. A fourth consecutive higher than expected reading on core consumer prices (which exclude food and energy) and an increase in the prices paid component of the ISM survey appear to have halted the decline, but they do not explain the notable drop in inflation expectations during May.
A continued decline in inflation expectations, which would support bond prices, would likely require weaker economic data, starting with Friday’s jobs report, indications the Fed will wait beyond the start of 2016 to raise interest rates, or contagion risks from a potential Greek default. We view each as unlikely and therefore believe additional bond strength is likely limited, leading to a continued tug-of-war on bond prices and a low-return environment.
