Stocks are at record highs, the job market is booming and fears about China’s deadly coronavirus have eased on Wall Street. The bond market, however, is again flashing a potential warning signal for the global economy.
A sharp rally in Treasurys in recent weeks led parts of the U.S. yield curve to invert, a signal that is often a harbinger of a recession. An inverted yield curve happens when shorter-term bond yields climb above longer-term ones. Investors flocked to safe-haven assets like Treasurys recently on fears that the virus could hinder global growth, sending long-term yields lower.
That’s left some investors scratching their heads as the American consumer—the pillar of the U.S. economy—remains strong while the U.S. economy is in the midst of its longest expansion on record.
“It seems like the stock market is a step behind in realizing the potential for slowing growth in the coming months,” says Gregory Daco, chief U.S. economist at Oxford Economics. “In reality, very few people are exposed to the coronavirus in the U.S., yet the uncertainty of the outbreak and the potential ramifications it could have on the stock market would still have a direct consequence to average households.”
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A tale of two markets
The stock and bond markets have been at odds with each other in recent months, telling two different stories about the outlook for growth ahead. The Dow Jones industrial average is trading at all-time highs, a sign that stock investors are pouring money into shares under the belief that the U.S. will shake off challenges from the virus if it’s contained.
But the bond market still foresees risks on the horizon that could slow the economy. The recent drop in yields was driven by the coronavirus, but yields were already low because of other factors including concerns about a sluggish global economy and lingering trade worries.
So which one is right? One possible theory is that both are forecasting a similar story, analysts say.
Investors adjust bets
Bond investors are likely adjusting their expectations to reflect low inflation and what the Federal Reserve will do next with interest rates, experts say. Yields on shorter-term bonds are sensitive to changes in central bank policy while longer-term bonds are more vulnerable to changes in inflation expectations.
“I think the stock and bond markets are actually telling the same story," says Jim Paulsen, chief market strategist at the Leuthold Group. "That message is that inflation is weak but economic growth is still healthy.”