【财经分析】美联储“裱糊”困境引发无序震荡 美债市场年末不确定性或增长

Core Viewpoint - The U.S. Treasury market is at a crossroads of monetary policy shifts and fiscal sustainability, with increasing complexity due to diverging views within the Federal Reserve and rising uncertainty in economic data [1][2]. Group 1: Monetary Policy Divergence - The Federal Reserve lowered the federal funds rate target range by 25 basis points to 3.75% to 4.00%, marking the second rate cut of the year, and announced the end of quantitative tightening (QT) on December 1 [1]. - There is a notable split within the Federal Reserve, with some members advocating for larger rate cuts while others prefer to maintain current rates, reflecting a lack of consensus [2]. - Inflation remains a significant concern, with September inflation reaching its highest level since January, driven by rising prices of essential goods [2]. Group 2: Economic and Fiscal Challenges - The U.S. federal debt has surpassed $35 trillion, with the debt-to-GDP ratio reaching 143%, a historical high, raising concerns about fiscal sustainability [6]. - The ongoing government shutdown has complicated data collection, including employment statistics, which adds to the uncertainty surrounding economic indicators [2][3]. - The impact of tariffs is contributing to rising consumer prices, with estimates suggesting that consumers bear 50% to 70% of the total tariff costs [3]. Group 3: Market Volatility and Investor Behavior - The probability of a rate cut in December has decreased from 90% to approximately 70%, indicating heightened uncertainty in market expectations [6]. - Investors are adjusting their strategies in response to the volatility in the Treasury market, with suggestions to shift towards longer-duration bonds to mitigate exposure to short-term policy fluctuations [8]. - The upcoming presidential election in November is expected to increase market volatility, with historical data indicating a 10-15% higher volatility in election years compared to non-election years [7].