Core Insights - The article discusses the anticipated delay of the Federal Reserve's interest rate cuts to Q4 2025, indicating a potential shift in the yield curve from a "bear steepening" to a "bull steepening" phase as market participants adjust their expectations for inflation and economic growth [3][10]. Group 1: Interest Rate Expectations - The market now expects the Federal Reserve to initiate rate cuts in Q4 2025, aligning with the company's assessment that rates could drop below 3% once the easing cycle begins [7]. - Current market pricing suggests a terminal rate of 3.35%, which is higher than the company's estimated reasonable rate of 2.75% [7]. - There is a 20% probability that the Federal Reserve will lower rates to below 2.25% by the end of 2026, based on risk-neutral distribution models [7]. Group 2: Yield Curve Dynamics - The yield curve is currently experiencing a "bear steepening" phase, with short-term rates stable while long-term rates rise due to supply pressures and concerns over fiscal sustainability [3][10]. - The 30-year U.S. Treasury yield is approaching a technical resistance level of 5%, which may provide temporary support for long-term rates, limiting further upward movement [3]. Group 3: Credit Market Insights - The credit spread of Chinese dollar-denominated bonds is influenced by U.S.-China trade tensions, with recent fluctuations reflecting market sensitivity to policy signals [11][12]. - The Peterson Institute reports that the average tariff on U.S. exports to China has risen to 126.5%, impacting the credit spread dynamics [12]. - Recent policy directions from China's central government aim to stimulate consumption and stabilize the real estate market, which may enhance risk appetite and affect credit spreads [14]. Group 4: Asset-Backed Securities - Major U.S. banks are showing caution in their demand for agency MBS, with a notable reduction in holdings as they navigate interest rate risks [19]. - The issuance of floating-rate and short-duration CMO securities has surged, indicating a defensive positioning by banks in a rate-sensitive environment [19]. - There is a growing preference for GNMA securities among banks due to their favorable capital treatment, despite expectations of regulatory changes [21].

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the recent volatility in the U.S. Treasury futures market, attributing it to regulatory expectations, particularly regarding the Supplementary Leverage Ratio (SLR) and its impact on swap spreads and market liquidity [4][10][13]. Group 1: U.S. Treasury Market Dynamics - The U.S. Treasury futures market has experienced significant volatility since April, particularly in the 10-year contract, raising concerns about potential large-scale unwinding of basis trades [4][10]. - Analysis of positions and trading data indicates that there is insufficient evidence to suggest a massive unwinding of basis trades, as the open interest in 2Y, 5Y, and 10Y contracts has only decreased by 1%-5%, which is much less than the 15%-25% drop seen during the 2020 pandemic [7][10]. - The current volatility is primarily driven by market expectations regarding regulatory changes, specifically discussions around SLR exemptions, which could affect banks' ability to expand their balance sheets and increase liquidity in the Treasury market [10][13]. Group 2: Chinese Dollar Bond Market Insights - Following the announcement of new tariffs on Chinese products in early April, there has been a notable increase in risk aversion within the Asian dollar bond market, although credit spreads have not widened significantly [14][16]. - The valuation advantage of Chinese dollar bonds has become more pronounced, with the OAS of U.S. investment-grade corporate bonds widening by approximately 20 basis points, while Chinese dollar bonds only widened by about 14 basis points, indicating a potential undervaluation [14][16]. - Despite a downgrade in China's long-term foreign currency issuer rating by Fitch, Chinese dollar bond credit spreads have remained relatively stable, reflecting investor confidence in the credit quality and refinancing risks of Chinese enterprises [16][19]. Group 3: Asset-Backed Securities and Mortgage Market - The U.S. mortgage market has seen tightening credit conditions, particularly affecting ordinary loan applicants, although the overall mortgage availability index has slightly improved due to relaxed restrictions on Jumbo loans [20][21]. - The structural changes in the MBS market, driven by a reduction in government roles in housing finance, suggest a shift towards non-agency and high-net-worth client segments, indicating a need for investors to focus on high-quality MBS assets [23].

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the impact of recent U.S. tariff policies on the bond market, highlighting increased uncertainty and its effects on investment decisions and bond yields [3][7][10]. Group 1: U.S. Tariff Policy and Market Impact - On March 4, the U.S. announced tariffs on Canada and Mexico, which were quickly reversed for most goods two days later, leading to heightened uncertainty in trade policy [3]. - A new Bloomberg Economic Research Index, the Daily Trade Policy Uncertainty Index (TPU), was developed to track this uncertainty, which surged to levels not seen during the peak of trade tensions in Trump's first term [3]. - The uncertainty surrounding tariffs is expected to suppress investment and affect economic output, contributing to a decline in long-term U.S. Treasury yields [7]. Group 2: U.S. Treasury Yields - From November 2023 to early March 2024, the yield on 10-year U.S. Treasuries fell by 16 basis points, with approximately 7 basis points attributed directly to tariff uncertainty [7]. - The Federal Open Market Committee decided to maintain interest rates during its March meeting, with core PCE inflation rising to an annualized rate of 4.5% and income growth accelerating by 0.8% month-on-month, reducing the urgency for rate cuts [7]. Group 3: Chinese Bond Market Trends - In March, the yield on China's 10-year government bonds rose to 1.93%, the highest since December of the previous year, before retreating to 1.8% later in the month [10]. - The U.S. 10-year Treasury yield rebounded to 4.36% due to better-than-expected non-farm payroll data and inflation concerns, impacting related sectors in the A-share market [10]. Group 4: Dim Sum Bond Market - The Dim Sum bond market has expanded significantly, with outstanding issuance surpassing 1.9 trillion yuan as of March 2025, and 2024 issuance reaching 896 billion yuan, a 120% increase from 2023 [11]. - High-rated bonds now account for 75% of the market, with issuers from the renewable energy and digital economy sectors emerging, such as BYD and SenseTime [11]. - The Bloomberg Offshore RMB Index has seen its market value more than double since the end of 2021, currently standing at 467 billion yuan [11]. Group 5: Investment Opportunities in Dim Sum Bonds - The yield spread between Chinese and U.S. 10-year government bonds has narrowed to -237 basis points, reducing the incentive to chase dollar-denominated assets and alleviating depreciation pressure on the yuan [13]. - The credit spread of Dim Sum bonds is 78 basis points higher than that of domestic high-liquidity credit bonds, with a low default rate of 0.15% [13].