The Bond Bubble – July 2016 Update

In previous posts I have discussed the Bond Bubble and its many facets, as my analyses indicates that the overall bond market is an exceedingly large asset bubble with immensely large and wide-ranging economic implications.

Since my last post on the Bond Bubble (the June 24, 2014 post titled “The Bond Bubble – June 2014 Update“) I have written various posts about interest rates and associated dynamics.

It should be noted that current rates on 10-Year Treasury Yields, from a (ultra) long-term historical view, remain extremely depressed.  Of note, recent yields have reached all-time lows, as mentioned in the July 6, 2016 post titled “10-Year Treasury Yields – Two Long-Term Charts As Of July 6, 2016.”

This can be seen in the following chart of 10-Year Treasury Constant Maturity Yields:

10-Year Treasury Constant Maturity

Data Source: FRED, Board Of Governors Of The Federal Reserve System; accessed July 27, 2016:

https://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/series/DGS10

Here is another chart of the 10-Year Treasury Yield, from 1980 on a LOG scale, with a long-term trendline.  The current yield is 1.563%:

(click on chart to enlarge image)(chart courtesy of StockCharts.com; chart creation and annotation by the author)

10-Year Treasury Yields

As seen in practically all economic forecasts, the belief that the ultra-low interest rate environment will continue to be sustained is widespread.

There are various highly notable aspects of the Bond Bubble that lack general awareness.  While a comprehensive discussion can’t be done in a brief manner, many of my previous posts have discussed certain aspects.

Of particular concern is the financial and economic impact resulting from the “bursting” of the Bond Bubble.  As I mentioned in my post of February 6, 2013 (“The Bond Bubble – February 2013 Update“) my expectation at that time – and what I continue to believe – is that after the bursting of the Bond Bubble the rate on the 10-Year Treasury will be far higher than it has been in recent years.  As stated in that post:

While I have not spent considerable effort trying to ascertain the level of this “natural” interest rate, I have little doubt that such a “natural” rate on the 10-Year Treasury would be at least 5%-10% and most likely considerably higher (possibly multiples thereof).  Of course, such rates would have massive implications on a number of fronts.

The prospects of such a large increase in interest rates – which, due to many dynamics of the bursting of this particular bubble – will likely happen in a short period of time.  Overall, this situation is of tremendous concern on many levels, including the impact such rising interest rates will have on other immensely large asset bubbles, including the stock market.

As I stated in the aforementioned February 6, 2013 post;

The perils of this bond bubble and its future “bursting” can hardly be overstated.

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The Special Note summarizes my overall thoughts about our economic situation

SPX at 2169.18 as this post is written