Sector Update

August 3, 2020

Treasury yields continued to grind lower last week and maturities in the 2-10 year range all closed at record lows on Friday. Last week, in regard to more significant declines in yields on longer maturities, we talked about “lower for longer” (maybe we should change it to lower for forever) and low inflation expectations. Over the weekend, a WSJ article discussed the Fed wrapping up a review started last year of their policy making. With short-term rates virtually at 0% and unlimited asset purchases occurring, the gist is the Fed would not want to be caught in a predicament where they have basically no room to advance their policies. The article suggest the Fed would take a “more relaxed view by allowing for periods in which inflation would run slightly above the bank’s 2% target, to make up for past episodes in which inflation ran below the target.” Perhaps the market is taking note as longer maturities have increased in yield this morning more than their shorter counterparts.

So far this morning, U.S. stock indices are up 1.0 to 1.5 percent. The Treasury curve’s slope is 2 bps wider from Friday’s close of 42 bps. From a yield perspective, Treasury bills are unchanged to 1 bp lower, 2- to 10-year maturities are unchanged to 3 bps higher, and long bonds are up 4-5 bps. Of interest this week to many readers, MBS prepayment information will be released, and we will have commentary available this Friday. Here is last month’s if you aren’t familiar with it.

Spread Commentary – Largely Tighter

(Click links below for more details)

Government/Agency Space
- Bullets were unchanged on the week, remain wider YTD.
- Callables were mixed, short maturities flat to wider, long maturities tighter.

Agency CMBS, MBS, and ARMs
- SBA DCPCs unchanged on the week.
- Agency MBS were tighter, 15-year by 5 bps and 30-year by 10 bps.
- Agency CMOs resumed tightening, 9-10 bps tighter over the past month.

Municipals
- BQ Munis, 5-year 1 bp wider, 10-year 6 bps tighter, 15-year 1 bp tighter.
- GM Munis, 5-year 12 bps tighter, 10-year 13 bps tighter, 15-year 19 bps tighter.
- Taxable Munis, 5-year 4 bps tighter, 10-year 1 bp tighter, 15-year 11 bps tighter.

Corporates
- Corporates, relatively unchanged, 1 bp wider for the week.

What We’re Reading

Market Today | Daily

Weekly Recap | Weekly, Friday

Brokered Deposit Rate Indications | Weekly, Monday

Investment Alternatives Matrix | Weekly, Tuesday

MBS Prepay Commentary (July) | Monthly, 5^th business day

SBA Prepay Commentary (July) | Monthly, 10^th business day

Freddie Mac: Mortgage Rates Decrease Slightly

“Rates continue to remain near historic lows, driving purchase demand over 20 percent above a year ago.”

WSJ: When Their PPP Loans Didn’t Come Through, These Businesses Broke Up With Their Banks

“Many business owners who felt unserved by their banks voiced their displeasure by moving their money elsewhere. Of businesses that secured PPP funding, about 28% received their loan from a lender with whom they had no prior relationship or a bank that wasn’t their primary one, according to a July survey of 931 firms conducted by Barlow Research Associates. About 44% of those borrowers said they would move at least some of their accounts and loans to the bank that came through for them during PPP, the survey found.”

Vining Sparks: Coronavirus Chartbooks

PDF/Mobile: Coronavirus Chartbook (PDF)

Regulatory Links

FHFA: 7/31 Temporary Policy Allowing Purchase of Qualified Loans in Forbearance Extended

FDIC: 7/30 Proposed Revisions to the Call Report and the FFIEC 101 Report (FIL-73-2020)

Federal Reserve: 7/29 Federal Reserve issues FOMC statement

Federal Reserve: 7/28 FRB extends through 12/31 lending facilities scheduled to expire on or around 9/30

Federal Reserve: 7/17 FRB modifies MSLP to provide greater access to credit for nonprofit organizations

FDIC: 7/10 Consolidated Reports of Condition and Income for 2Q 2020 (FIL-69-2020)

FHFA: 7/9 FHFA Extends COVID-Related Loan Processing Flexibilities for FN/FH Through August

FDIC: 7/1 FFIEC Joint Statement on Managing the LIBOR Transition (FIL-68-2020)

Federal Reserve: 7/1 Minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee, June 9-10, 2020