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U.S. Treasury yields rose Wednesday as equities markets rallied on reports of progress on a coronvirus vaccine from two pharmaceutical companies that raise the chances of an economic recovery from the pandemic.
What are Treasurys doing?
The 10-year Treasury note yield TMUBMUSD10Y, 0.658% rose 3.4 basis points to 0.648%, while the 2-year note rate TMUBMUSD02Y, 0.161% edged 0.6 basis point to 0.161%. The 30-year bond yield TMUBMUSD30Y, 1.355% climbed 4.3 basis points to 1.344%.
What’s driving Treasurys?
The bond market followed the stock market’s tune as futures for the S&P 500 SPX, +1.34% index and Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, +2.13% were trading sharply higher before the opening bell, weighing on demand for government debt.
Global equities were buoyed after Moderna Inc. MRNA, +4.54% said its coronavirus vaccine candidate produced a “robust” immune-system response in a larger group of people and that the study would move to a decisive clinical trial in July.
Also U.K. television broadcaster ITV reported on speculation around potentially positive developments for an Oxford vaccine candidate backed by AstraZeneca PLC AZN, +4.55% AZN, +1.39%.
On Tuesday, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said he was “cautiously optimistic” about the development of a coronavirus vaccine.
However, tensions between U.S. and China continued to heat up. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump late Tuesday said he signed a bipartisan bill sanctioning China for its security crackdown on Hong Kong as well as an executive order to hold China accountable for “oppressive actions” against the former British colony’s people. Trump also said he had signed an order ending U.S. preferential treatment for Hong Kong. China said it would impose retaliatory sanctions against U.S. individuals and entities, news reports said.
In U.S. economic data, business activity in New York State increased in July for the first time since the pandemic began in March, according to the New York Fed’s Empire State Manufacturing Survey released Wednesday. The Empire State business conditions index rose to 17.2 in July from negative 0.2 in the prior month. A reading above to zero indicates improving conditions.
U.S. industrial production data for last month is due at 9:15 a.m., followed by the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book at 2 p.m.
Also, Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker will deliver remarks at noon.
What did market participants’ say?
“Global markets are generally ignoring the heightened geopolitical risks between China, the U.S. and U.K., and focusing on the update from Moderna Inc. regarding its COVID-19 vaccine that produced antibodies in all patients tested in an initial safety trial,” said analysts at Nedbank.
