The 10-year Treasury yield rose to its highest level in more than a decade as investors continued to assess the prospect of the Federal Reserve taking the most aggressive step yet in its fight to lower soaring inflation.
The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note was last up 7 basis points to 3.44%, after breaking above 3.45%. That marks a high not seen since April 2011. The 2-year yield rose 14 basis points to 3.425% while the 30-year Treasury bond was last up 5 basis points to 3.423%. Yields move inversely to prices, and a basis point is equal to 0.01%.
After ending May at 2.74%, the 10-year yield has rocketed higher this month as hot inflation readings caused investors to dump bonds and ratcheted up their bets for aggressive Fed tightening. The 10-year is also up sharply from where it started 2022 at — 1.51%.
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“The bond market is ripping the band aid off,” said Cliff Corso of Advisors Asset Management. “What the bond market is saying … is that inflation is going to be high and sticky and the longer this lasts, the more sticky it gets.”
These moves come as investors brace themselves for a 75 basis-point hike from the Fed this week, rather than a 50 basis-point hike many had come to expect. That’s because last week’s inflation report showed prices running hotter than expected.
The Federal Open Market Committee in May raised the target range for the federal funds rate to 0.75% to 1% from 0.25% to 0.5%.
During the previous session, the 10-year notched its biggest move since 2020. The 2-year and 10-year Treasury yield curve also briefly inverted for the first time since early April as investors prepared for the prospect of aggressive monetary policy tightening to lower inflation. This measure is closely monitored by traders and is often seen as an indicator of a recession.
Tuesday’s swings come after an intense sell-off during the regular session on Wall Street as market participants await the start of the Federal Reserve’s two-day policy meeting, which concludes on Wednesday.
— CNBC’s Sarah Min contributed to this report.
