Visit/investments/bonds/government-bonds/600738/keep-an-eye-on-swedens-interest-rates
Keep an eye on Sweden's interest rates
Could Sweden be poised to return to negative interest rates?
31 Jan 2020
Visit/investments/bonds/government-bonds/600736/bond-party-back-on-for-investors-for-now
Bond party back on for investors – for now
Fear of the coronavirus has sent investors retreating to their habitual comfort zone: government bonds.
30 Jan 2020
Visit/economy/global-economy/600711/the-charts-that-matter-coronavirus-or-a-liquidity-air-pocket
The charts that matter: coronavirus – or a liquidity air pocket?
With the yield curve showing worrying signs of flatlining again. John Stepek wonders what's to blame and turns to the charts that matter most to the g…
25 Jan 2020
Visit/520201/could-the-2020s-mark-the-end-of-this-freakish-financial-phenomenon
Negative bond yields: could the 2020s mark the end of this freakish financial phenomenon?
If there’s one thing the 2010s will be notable for, it's the incredible things happening in the bond market. John Stepek asks if we've finally seen th…
24 Dec 2019
Visit/519971/the-charts-that-matter-as-the-year-draws-to-a-close-optimism-reigns
The charts that matter: as the year draws to a close, optimism reigns
At the end of an eventful year, John Stepek casts his eye over the charts that matter the most to the global economy.
21 Dec 2019
Visit/519482/the-bond-bubble-has-yet-again-failed-to-burst
The bond bubble has yet again failed to burst
2019 looks set to go down as the year in which the bond bubble yet again failed to burst
13 Dec 2019
Visit/519305/the-charts-that-matter-a-fresh-hope-for-the-global-economy
The charts that matter: a fresh hope for the global economy?
John Stepek looks to the charts that matter most to the global economy to see if he can glean some signs of hope.
7 Dec 2019
Visit/517501/the-charts-that-matter-chinas-scepticism-on-trump
The charts that matter: China’s scepticism on Trump
With China sceptical of getting a trade deal out of Donald Trump, John Stepek looks at how that affects the charts that matter most to the global econ…
2 Nov 2019
Visit/517138/the-charts-that-matter-relative-calm-and-a-surge-for-tesla
The charts that matter: relative calm – and a surge for Tesla
As shares in electric car group Tesla surge, John Stepek looks at the charts that matter most to the global economy.
26 Oct 2019
Visit/516887/markets-are-getting-over-their-burst-of-summer-panic-but-why
Markets are getting over their burst of summer panic – but why?
Not so long ago, investors were despondent, diving headfirst into “safe haven” bonds. Now, however, markets have perked up. John Stepek explains what’…
22 Oct 2019
Visit/515685/515685
Jeff Gundlach: don't bet on lower interest rates
The ten-year US Treasury yield has already hit its low for the year, says "bond king" Jeff Gundlach.
30 Sep 2019
Visit/515093/the-charts-that-matter-risk-on-rules
The charts that matter: “risk on” rules
The “risk-off” move we saw over the past month or so has reversed. John Stepek looks at how that affects the charts that matter the most to the global…
14 Sep 2019
Visit/515014/mario-draghi-pulls-out-his-big-bazooka
Mario Draghi pulls out his big bazooka
Mario Draghi pulled out the biggest bazooka he could find in his second-last monetary policy meeting as boss of the European Central Bank. John Stepek…
12 Sep 2019
Visit/514424/chart-of-the-week-argentina-austria-century-bonds
Chart of the week: a tale of two century bonds
Investors keep buying Argentinian debt even though they really should know better. The price of Argentina’s century bond has slumped by 45% as concern…
9 Sep 2019
Visit/514167/what-to-buy-in-a-world-of-negative-interest-rates
What to buy in a world of negative interest rates
The world’s most bizarre financial experiment ever – negative interest rates – continues. Merryn Somerset Webb looks at how investors should respond.
2 Sep 2019
Visit/513591/the-charts-that-matter-markets-hold-their-breath
The charts that matter: markets hold their breath
The yield curve suggested a recession was on the way when it inverted – but that could be up to two years away. John Stepek looks at the charts that m…
24 Aug 2019
Visit/513501/easy-money-will-keep-inflating-bond-bubble
Easy money will keep inflating bond bubble
A usually sedate part of the investment world is clearly in a bubble.
23 Aug 2019
Visit/513497/doomsday-clock-approaches-midnight
Doomsday clock approaches midnight
The inverted yield curve on US Treasuries spells trouble for investors. Alex Rankine reports.
23 Aug 2019
Visit/513209/the-charts-that-matter-the-rush-to-safety
The charts that matter: the rush to safety
The now infamous yield curve inverted this week, and that's sent investors running for cover. John Stepek looks at the charts that most most to invest…
17 Aug 2019
Visit/513073/time-to-review-your-portfolio
Time to review your portfolio
It's always a good idea to see where your portfolio stands at times of market extremes, says John Stepek.
15 Aug 2019
Visit/513058/navigating-the-weird-world-of-negative-interest-rates
Navigating the weird world of negative interest rates
Investors are paying good money to be allowed to lend money to governments across the world. What on earth is going on, and what does it mean for your…
15 Aug 2019
Visit/513087/what-is-a-yield-curve-and-why-should-i-care-if-it-inverts
What is a yield curve, and why should I care if it inverts?
Everybody is talking about the inverted yield curve and how it predicts recessions. John Stepek explains everything you need to know about it and why …
15 Aug 2019
Visit/512874/the-charts-that-matter-its-all-gone-a-bit-pear-shaped
The charts that matter: it’s all gone a bit pear-shaped
With the currency wars escalating, John Stepek looks at how the week's events have shaped the charts that matter the most to the global economy.
10 Aug 2019
Visit/512790/eurozone-economy-bond-yields
Are trade wars rattling markets, or is it fear of another blow-up in Europe?
As the trade war intensifies, developed-world government bonds have sunk to new lows. But the root cause of the markets' jitters could lie not so much…
8 Aug 2019
Visit/511475/the-charts-that-matter-the-un-inverting-of-the-yield-curve
The charts that matter: the un-inverting of the yield curve
The US bond yield curve turned positive again at the tail end of this week. John Stepek looks at how it affects the charts that matter the most to the…
20 Jul 2019
Visit/511283/investors-are-going-bonkers-for-bonds
Investors are going bonkers for bonds
In a further sign of the mania gripping the bond market, Germany issued €3.15bn of zero-interest ten-year bonds last week.
18 Jul 2019
Visit/510925/the-charts-that-matter-the-fed-gives-the-market-the-green-light
The charts that matter: the Fed gives the market the green light
This week, the Federal Reserve reassured investors that an interest rate cut is coming. John Stepek looks at how that has affected the charts that mat…
13 Jul 2019
Visit/510909/lend-to-germany-at-0-weve-seen-even-stranger-things-in-the-bond-market
Lend to Germany at 0%? We’ve seen even stranger things in the bond market
If you want to lend money to the German government, you won't be getting any interest. In fact, you may have to pay. John Stepek explains what's going…
12 Jul 2019
Visit/510344/the-charts-that-matter-a-quandary-for-the-fed
The charts that matter: a quandary for the Fed
The yield curve is putting pressure on the Federal reserve to cut interest rates. But the economic data doesn't support that. John Stepek looks at wha…
6 Jul 2019
Visit/509921/the-charts-that-matter-the-bond-bubble-keeps-getting-bigger
The charts that matter: the bond bubble keeps getting bigger
Markets are still absorbing the impact of the Federal Reserve’s shift closer to cutting rates that we saw last week. John Stepek looks at what's happe…
29 Jun 2019
Visit/509729/bond-yields-madness-in-bond-markets
The fresh madness in the bond markets
Plunging bond yields are sending an unambiguous distress call as investors fret about everything from a weaker global economy and the trade war to Mid…
27 Jun 2019
Visit/509571/bond-yields-bond-bubble-is-back-and-bigger-than-ever-before
The bond bubble is back and bigger than ever before
Many developed-world sovereign bonds now carry negative yields – investors are paying for the privilege of lending governments money. John Stepek expl…
24 Jun 2019
Visit/509513/the-charts-that-matter-the-great-central-bank-sponsored-rally
The charts that matter: the great central bank-sponsored rally
With the US central bank now on board with the idea of cutting interest rates, John Stpeek looks at what this means for the charts that matter most to…
22 Jun 2019
Visit/508707/the-charts-that-matter-the-fed-chucks-investors-a-bone
The charts that matter: the Fed chucks investors a bone
With America's central bank sounding more likely to cut short-term interest rates, John Stepek looks at how it affects the charts that matter most to …
8 Jun 2019
Visit/508518/the-flight-into-dodgy-sovereign-debt
The flight into dodgy sovereign debt
German bond yields are down to all-time lows as market turmoil causes investors to pile into sovereign debt, no matter how overpriced.
7 Jun 2019
Visit/508129/the-charts-that-matter-the-great-bond-bubble-revisited
The charts that matter: the great bond bubble revisited
A slide in bond yields this week has driven the yield curve lower. John Stepek looks at how this has affected the charts that matter most to the globa…
1 Jun 2019
Visit/508091/bond-yields-are-back-at-record-lows-why-are-investors-so-scared
Bond yields are back at record lows – why are investors so scared?
Government bond yields have slumped to their lowest level ever as investors flee to the safety of sovereign debt. John Stepek explains what's got ever…
31 May 2019
Visit/507511/bonds-signal-gloom-ahead
Bond market signals gloom ahead
The bond market has a much better record than the stockmarket of predicting economic downturns. And last week, yields on ten-year US Treasury notes di…
24 May 2019
Visit/506672/a-nasty-surprise-for-us-bond-markets
Never mind tariffs – here’s a scary thing that happened to markets this week
While investors were worrying about trade disputes and tariff hikes this week, the US bond markets threw up a nasty surprise. John Stepek explains wha…
10 May 2019
Visit/505836/the-charts-that-matter-the-us-economys-big-surprise
The charts that matter: the US economy’s big surprise
US economic growth absolutely hammered expectations for the first quarter. John Stepek looks at what that means to the charts that matter the most to …
27 Apr 2019
Visit/505262/chart-of-the-week-greece-a-better-credit-risk-than-the-us
Chart of the week: Greece – a better credit risk than the US?
The yield on the five-year Greek government bond has slipped beneath its US counterpart. For a country that has borrowed too much since its foundation…
19 Apr 2019
Visit/504960/it-makes-sense-to-lend-to-governments
It makes sense to lend to governments
No matter how ramshackle or indebted the country, buying its bonds is rarely a bad idea, says Matthew Lynn.
14 Apr 2019
Visit/505136/the-charts-that-matter-us-jobless-figures-finally-hit-a-fresh-low
The charts that matter: US jobless figures finally hit a fresh low
The four-week moving average of weekly US jobless claims fell to 207,000, the lowest level in nearly 50 years. John Stepek looks at the chart as well …
13 Apr 2019
Visit/504557/what-is-the-yield-curve-saying
What is the yield curve saying?
An inverted yield curve usually means a recession lies ahead. Is this time different? And does it matter? John Stepek explains.
8 Apr 2019
Visit/504663/the-charts-that-matter-have-recession-rumours-been-overstated
The charts that matter: have recession rumours been overstated?
With the "yield curve" bouncing back nicely, does that mean the risk of a recession is receding? To find out, John Stepek looks to the charts that mat…
6 Apr 2019
Visit/504023/latest-recession-scare-is-a-false-alarm
Latest recession scare is a false alarm
Markets have been spooked by the inversion of the US bond yield curve, which often – but not always – heralds a recession.
28 Mar 2019
Visit/503855/are-bond-yields-heading-for-new-lows
Are bond yields heading for new lows?
Government bond yields are turning negative. John Stepek looks at why people would pay to borrow from governments, and what it means for the markets a…
26 Mar 2019
Visit/503846/yield-curve-scary-moment-for-markets
A genuinely scary moment for markets
Markets took fright on Friday after the US Treasury bond “yield curve” inverted. John Stepek explains what that means, and why markets fear we could b…
25 Mar 2019
Visit/502897/bond-yields-interest-rates-creeping-higher-why
Interest rates around the world are quietly creeping higher – why?
The cost of borrowing for governments around the world is creeping higher. John Stepek explains why that's so important for investors.
4 Mar 2019