Yauhen Akulich/iStock via Getty Images The inflation-driven spike in the market premium for the US 10-year yield ( US10Y ) in 2022-2023 has been gradually reversing over the last several years. But in the wake of the turmoil in the Middle East, which has raised energy costs and inflation, the pre-war calculus may be set for an attitude adjustment. The Treasury market’s reaction to the war has been...
Yauhen Akulich/iStock via Getty Images The inflation-driven spike in the market premium for the US 10-year yield ( US10Y ) in 2022-2023 has been gradually reversing over the last several years. But in the wake of the turmoil in the Middle East, which has raised energy costs and inflation, the pre-war calculus may be set for an attitude adjustment. The Treasury market’s reaction to the war has been muted so far. The benchmark rate shot up to nearly 4.50% in late March but has pulled back to close at 4.34%. A rise above the previous high would signal that the bond market is pricing in higher inflation risk. The Capital Spectator’s ensemble model currently estimates fair value for the 10-year yield at roughly 4.0%, based on monthly analytics through March. That reflects a mostly steady fair value calculation in recent months. A market premium over fair value has prevailed in recent years. During the height of the 2022-2023 inflation shock, the premium spiked to well over a full percentage point. Investor sentiment has been gradually unwinding that premium, but the Middle East turmoil and the potential for unleashing higher inflation for an unknown period going forward will likely raise the premium again. The offsetting factor is the potential for slower growth. The energy-supply shock threatens to elevate inflation and reduce economic growth, which is disinflationary. It’s unclear if one or the other side of this macro equation will dominate. It’s possible that each risk offsets the other, leaving the yield premium relatively steady and near equilibrium. My guess is that the market will initially favor a higher premium driven by inflation risk, followed by a lesser premium as sentiment pivots to the potential for slower growth later in the year. The greater clarity on what lies ahead is that the news flow from the Middle East will continue to dictate market sentiment. On that score, the crowd has yet another challenging trading week ahead in the wake of failed peace ta...