国泰海通｜固收：联储降息后，美债的“短降长稳/升”特征

Core Viewpoint - The Federal Reserve has lowered the benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to a range of 4.00%-4.25% as a risk management measure to address economic slowdown and cooling labor market, while also aiming to guide inflation back to target [1] Group 1: Economic Indicators - The U.S. GDP growth for the first half of the year was 1.5%, which is below expectations, indicating pressures from slowing consumer growth, recovering business investment, and a sluggish real estate market [1] - The unemployment rate has risen to 4.3%, with new job additions falling to a three-month average of 29,000, highlighting a dual decline in labor market supply and demand, with a faster contraction in supply [1] - Core PCE inflation remains above target at 2.9% year-on-year, despite a decline from previous highs, complicating the inflation outlook due to a rebound in commodity prices and increasing divergence in service sector inflation [1] Group 2: Interest Rate Dynamics - Short-term Treasury yields (1 year and below) fell sharply after the announcement, with 3-month and 1-year yields closing at 3.97% and 3.62% respectively, reflecting strong market expectations for further Fed easing [2] - The 2-year and 5-year yields also declined but to a lesser extent, consistent with historical patterns where short-term rates react more quickly to rate cuts [2] - Long-term Treasury yields (10 years and above) exhibited complex movements post-rate cut, initially declining but then rebounding, with 20-year and 30-year yields closing at 4.65% and 4.68% respectively, indicating a "short drop, long stability/rise" phenomenon [2] Group 3: Historical Context - Historically, short-term capital gains are significant but limited in the early stages of rate cuts, while long-term yields tend to show considerable gains due to duration advantages, influenced by actual interest rate expectations, term premiums, and global liquidity [3] - Short-term rates (1-3 years) are highly sensitive to changes in the federal funds rate, often reacting ahead of formal rate cuts, while long-term rates are more influenced by economic outlook and inflation expectations [3] - The overall behavior of the yield curve during rate cut cycles is dynamic, with short-term rates responding quickly and long-term rates exhibiting more complex fluctuations, emphasizing the importance of Fed communication on long-term rate trends [3]