The U.S. Bond Sell-off may Signal a Further Sell-off in the Stock Market

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Tiger_James Ooi
05-19
  • $9.2 trillion of U.S. government debt will mature in 2025, with $6.5 trillion maturing in June alone.

  • The U.S. government will need to roll over (refinance) a large portion of this debt, essentially borrowing new money to repay maturing bonds.


Trump’s Pressure for Rate Cuts

  • Trump wants the Fed to cut interest rates, hoping this will lower government borrowing costs (bond yields).

  • The aim is to minimize interest expenses on the newly issued debt in June 2025.


But Fed Cuts Don’t Guarantee Lower Long-Term Yields

  • Fed rate cuts help more on the short end of the yield curve; long-end yields may remain sticky or even rise if inflation expectations stay elevated or market confidence in U.S. fiscal credibility weakens.

  • Investors in long-duration Treasuries demand a higher yield if they fear inflation or debt monetization.

  • So even if the Fed cuts rates, 10- and 30-year Treasury yields may not fall—and could rise—if macro risks persist.


Unusual Market Behavior

  • 10- and 30-year Treasuries $10-YR T-NOTE - main 2506(ZNmain)$ $30-YR T-BOND - main 2506(ZBmain)$ were sold off heavily lately, causing yields to spike despite signs of economic slowdown.

  • This reflects a breakdown of normal recession dynamics, likely due to:

    • Rising inflation risk due to tariff uncertainties

    • Oversupply of Treasuries

    • Fading confidence in the Fed’s independence or U.S. creditworthiness


Why This Matters for Markets

  • If long-term yields stay high, the U.S. will face a much higher debt service burden, especially during the June refinancing wave.

  • Rising debt-to-GDP ratios and elevated real yields could crowd out private investment and pressure risk assets.

  • Political interference in the Fed (e.g., Trump pushing to replace Powell) could further weaken confidence and drive yields even higher.

Read more>> 6 Questions on Why High US Debt Isn't the Crisis Everyone Thinks It Is

Conclusion:

  • Investors need to pay close attention to bond market movements. The continued sell-off in U.S. Treasuries signals rising long-term yields, which could tighten financial conditions, weigh on stock valuations, and reflect growing concerns over inflation, fiscal discipline, and political interference with the Fed.

  • To bring long-term yields down, the U.S. may need to halt quantitative tightening (QT), consider reintroducing quantitative easing (QE), and restore confidence in central bank independence. Ideally, there should be a global consensus that future U.S. interest rates will trend lower — this would encourage strong demand for the $6.5 trillion in new Treasuries due for issuance in June 2025, allowing the government to refinance its maturing debt at more favorable rates.

  • The silver lining for equity markets is that if Trump can shift focus toward striking meaningful trade deals — this could ease inflation expectations.

  • A de-escalation in trade tensions would reduce supply-side cost pressures, help lower bond yields, and restore market confidence, potentially paving the way for a more sustainable recovery in both bonds and equities.

 

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