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The charts that matter: bond investors feel the pain
In a week when Germany had to start paying to borrow money again, we take a look at how the charts that matter most to the global economy have fared.
In this week’s MoneyWeek podcast, Merryn talks to Hamish Baillie of Ruffer. Hamish tells Merryn why the investment landscape has changed, and a traditional 60/40 equities/bonds split portfolio isn’t likely to cut it any more. That’s one of the reasons he’s bought into bitcoin in quite a big way, and why he’s still a fan of gold. Listen here.
In this week’s issue of the magazine, Matthew looks at hearing technology. It’s an often ignored part of the health sector, but it is about to move into the limelight and there have been some exciting developments. We also look at how to boost Britain's stricken economy, and look at how to buy into the potential of US small-cap stocks. Subscribe now to get your first six mags free.
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Join more than 165,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with latest financial news, insights and expert analysis to help you understand what really matters when it comes to your finances.
Join more than 165,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with latest financial news, insights and expert analysis to help you understand what really matters when it comes to your finances.
Our latest “Too Embarrassed To Ask” video looks at the difference between monetary policy and fiscal policy, the two main tools available to governments and central banks for influencing a country's economic growth. Find out more in a couple of short minutes by watching our video here.
Gold fell to its lowest since March last year, as interest rates start to rise faster than inflation expectations.
(Image credit: Gold price chart)
(Gold: three months)
The US dollar index (DXY – a measure of the strength of the dollar against a basket of the currencies of its major trading partners) arrested its recent decline.
(Image credit: US dollar index chart)
(DXY: three months)
The Chinese yuan (or renminbi) continued broadly flat against the US dollar (when the red line is falling, the yuan is strengthening).
(Image credit: USD/CNY currency chart)
(Chinese yuan to the US dollar: since 25 Jun 2019)
The yield on the ten-year US government bond shot up to almost 1.3% as investors buy in to the “reflation” story – the belief that economic growth is coming back. According to Bloomberg, this is the worst start of a year for bond investors since 2013.
(Image credit: US ten-year Treasury bond yield chart)
(Ten-year US Treasury yield: three months)
The yield on the Japanese ten-year bond remains low but has shot up – by its standards at least – and now sits at the dizzying height of almost 0.09%.
(Image credit: Japanese government bonds yield chart)
(Ten-year Japanese government bond yield: three months)
And, in a week when the German government auctioned some 30-year Bunds for a whopping 0.1%, the yield on the ten-year German Bund crept higher too. Still not positive, but the highest it’s been for some while.
(Image credit: German bund yield chart)
(Ten-year Bund yield: three months)
Copper continued its rise as the new commodities supercycle story gathers pace.
(Image credit: Copper price chart)
(Copper: nine months)
And the Aussie dollar headed slightly higher on the back of stronger commodities, too.
(Image credit: AUD/USD currency chart)
(Aussie dollar vs US dollar exchange rate: three months)
Cryptocurrency bitcoin continues its seemingly unstoppable rise as it becomes increasingly mainstream. Ruffer’s Hamish Baillie tells Merryn in this week’s podcast why he bought a big chunk of it not so long ago. Listen to that conversation here.
(Image credit: Bitcoin price chart)
(Bitcoin: three months)
US weekly jobless claims rose to 861,000, compared to 848,000 last week (revised up from 793,000) – a four-week high and almost 100,000 more than analysts had expected in a Reuters poll. The four-week moving average fell by 3,500 to 833,250 from 836,750 (revised up from 823,000) the week before.
(Image credit: US weekly jobless claims chart)
(US jobless claims, four-week moving average: since Jan 2020)
The oil price (as measured by Brent crude) jumped even higher this week to just over $64, before dropping back a little at the end of the week.
Tesla slipped this week, too and looks to be drifting lower – something that could easily accelerate as market conditions turn.
(Image credit: Tesla share price chart)
(Tesla: three months)
Have a great weekend.
Ben
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