Group 1 - The U.S. Treasury bond market is experiencing a mixed performance, with the 2-year bond yield dropping over 5 basis points while the 30-year bond yield approaches 4.95%, nearing the 5% mark [1] - There is a growing concern among investors regarding President Trump's recent strong stance against the Federal Reserve, which may undermine the central bank's independence and increase inflation expectations, impacting the dollar and the bond market [1] - The current political risk score for the U.S. is 41.79, close to the average of 28 emerging market countries at 44, indicating that the U.S. is becoming more similar to emerging markets in terms of risk [1] Group 2 - The U.S. Treasury issued $70 billion in 5-year bonds with a winning yield of 3.724%, the lowest since September last year, and lower than July's 3.983% [2] - The bid-to-cover ratio for the auction was 2.36, slightly better than the previous month's 2.31 but still below the recent average of 2.37 [2] - The indirect bid ratio, which reflects foreign demand, was 60.5%, up from 58.3% last month but significantly below the recent average of 69.3% [2]

Core Viewpoint - Recent economic data weakness and rising expectations for Federal Reserve interest rate cuts have led to a decline in U.S. Treasury yields, with the yield curve steepening due to widening term spreads [2][3] Group 1: Treasury Yield Movements - U.S. Treasury yields have shown volatility, with the 10-year yield fluctuating from nearly 4.5% in early July to below 4.2% mid-month, and currently oscillating around 4.3% to 4.45% [3] - The 2-year Treasury yield experienced a more pronounced decline, dropping from approximately 3.95% to below 3.7% after the release of disappointing non-farm payroll data [3][4] - The yield spread between the 10-year and 2-year Treasuries has widened from below 50 basis points in early July to 58 basis points recently [4] Group 2: Economic Data and Market Sentiment - The unexpected deterioration in non-farm payroll data has shaken market confidence in a "soft landing" for the U.S. economy, prompting a flight to safety into Treasuries and lowering yields [3][4] - Market expectations for a Federal Reserve rate cut in September have intensified, although inflation outlook remains uncertain, influencing Treasury yield movements [2][5] Group 3: Supply and Demand Dynamics - The recent passage of the "Big and Beautiful" bill has raised the U.S. debt ceiling by $5 trillion, leading to increased Treasury issuance to cover budget deficits [7] - Concerns are growing about a potential surge in Treasury supply in Q3, reminiscent of previous supply shocks that drove yields significantly higher [7][8] - Demand for U.S. Treasuries has shown signs of weakness, with recent auctions reflecting lower interest from investors, particularly foreign central banks [8]