债瘾难戒！欧美最怕的事：全世界债券义勇军，联合起来

Group 1 - A concerning signal is emerging in the global bond market as governments plan record levels of debt issuance while investors are quietly retreating [1][2] - The recent poor performance of Japan's 20-year government bond auction, with a bid-to-cover ratio dropping to 2.5, marks the worst result since 2012, indicating a significant decline in investor appetite [2][3] - The U.S. also faced a lackluster response in its 20-year bond auction, with a bid-to-cover ratio of 2.46, the lowest since February, reflecting a broader issue of diminishing demand for long-term government debt [2][4] Group 2 - The supply of long-term government bonds is increasing due to both government issuance and central bank sales, while demand is falling as traditional buyers like pension funds withdraw from the market [3][4] - In the UK, traditional defined benefit pension funds are no longer accepting new members, leading to a reduced demand for long-term debt, which is being replaced by hedge funds favoring short-term bonds [3][4] - Similar trends are observed in Japan, where the aging population is less inclined to hold long-term debt [3][4] Group 3 - The global imbalance of supply and demand for long-term bonds is evident, with T Rowe Price's Amanda Stitt noting that the era of cheap long-term financing has ended, leading to increased competition among governments for buyers [4][10] - Rising long-term bond yields are becoming a political issue, with increasing debt interest costs threatening government spending in various countries [10][11] - In the U.S., interest payments on public debt are projected to exceed $1 trillion for the first time in fiscal year 2024, highlighting the growing burden of debt servicing [10][11] Group 4 - Governments are exploring options to manage the situation, such as issuing more short-term debt and reducing long-term debt sales, but experts warn that without significant economic growth, cutting excessive spending is the only sustainable solution [11][12] - Concerns are rising about a potential fiscal-driven stagnation, where increased government borrowing could crowd out private investment and lead to a prolonged low-growth scenario [11][12] - The future of global debt management hinges on whether governments can avoid a sudden reckoning, as indicated by the actions of the so-called "bond vigilantes" [11][12]