According to the latest reports from foreign media, U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent is rolling out a rare combination of measures to rein in the rapid rise in long-term U.S. Treasury yields.

Over the past week, after the 30-year Treasury yield hit a 19-year high and the 10-year yield surpassed the 4.6% level, Bessent has taken consecutive actions, which traders interpret as a clear signal that the Treasury Department is anxious about rising long-end rates.

The first move was a joint intervention in the foreign exchange market. At the end of last month, the U.S. coordinated with Japan to buy yen—the first such joint action since 1998. While publicly aimed at stabilizing the currency market, the real intent was to close the gap that could prompt Japan to sell U.S. Treasuries to raise dollars for defending the yen. Bessent also suggested Tokyo could use the Federal Reserve’s SRF (Standing Repurchase Facility) to reduce pressure to sell U.S. bonds.

The second step was a subtle 'makeover' of issuance guidance. In last week’s quarterly refunding statement, the U.S. Treasury changed the forward-looking language on long-dated coupon bond issuance from 'increases' to 'changes.' The market widely interprets this as leaving the door open to potentially reducing the supply of 20-year and 30-year bonds in the future.

The third step was a public relations campaign. Bessent has recently appeared frequently on television and social media, defending Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Walsh’s ambiguous inflation communication strategy, aiming to break the vicious cycle of 'policy opacity → soaring term premium.'

Priya Misra, Portfolio Manager at Morgan Asset Management, pointed out that the Fed and Treasury are undoubtedly concerned about rising long-end yields.

"Intervening in yen, backing Walsh, signaling reduced long-bond supply—these are all messages to the market: 'We see it and will use every tool available,'" said Misra. However, she noted that with an annual deficit nearing $2 trillion and persistent inflation, new debt supply will only increase, meaning the Treasury Secretary’s influence has a ceiling.

For the White House, lowering mortgage and corporate financing costs is a direct political imperative. While the U.S. Treasury spokesperson declined to comment, the market has already received the signal: Bessent does not want to reenact a 'long-bond runaway' scenario—even if it only buys a few dozen basis points of breathing room.

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  • Source: PR Times
  • Category: News