Treasury yields hold steady as traders eye CPI inflation data due Wednesday

U.S. yields are little changed Tuesday morning as traders prepared for August’s data on inflation and retail sales on Wednesday and Thursday.

What’s happening

  • The yield on the 2-year Treasury
    BX:TMUBMUSD02Y
    advanced 2.7 basis points to 5.02% from 4.993% on Monday.

  • The yield on the 10-year Treasury
    BX:TMUBMUSD10Y
    was little changed at 4.284% versus 4.287% Monday afternoon.

  • The yield on the 30-year Treasury
    BX:TMUBMUSD30Y
    fell less than 1 basis point to 4.369% from 4.376% late Monday.

What’s driving markets

Trading was cautious as investors awaited potential market-moving data catalysts in the next two days.

The U.S. consumer price index for August will be released on Wednesday, followed on Thursday by reports on producer prices and retail sales for the same month. Together, the data has the potential to influence the thinking of Federal Reserve officials on how much more monetary tightening is needed to push inflation back down to their 2% target.

Currently, markets are pricing in a 91% probability that the Fed will leave interest rates unchanged at a range of 5.25%-5.50% on Sept. 20, according to the CME FedWatch Tool. The chances of a 25-basis-point rate hike to a range of 5.5%-5.75% at the subsequent meeting in November is priced at 42.9%.

What analysts are saying

“Investors are expected to stay largely treading water on Wall Street rather than taking any ambitious strokes ahead of the key consumer inflation reading,” said Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets, at Hargreaves Lansdown.

“Although Fed policymakers are expected to sit on their hands and keep interest rates on hold this month, the forecast for another hike ahead is uncertain. Sentiment keeps oscillating with expectations of another rate rise in November decreasing a little, with policymakers thought to be more nervous about doing too much and pushing the economy into a deeper slowdown,” Streeter said.

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