Wall Street is abuzz this week amid a surge in the yield for the benchmark 10-year Treasury note, which has repeatedly topped levels not seen since 2011 over the last few days.
But while the multiyear highs above 3 percent are notable by themselves, bonds traders are also impressed by how quickly rates have broken above those key technical levels. The yield on the 10-year note has climbed about 15 basis points this week alone after trading in an innocuous range around 2.8 percent for much of summer 2018.
But why should investors care?
While short-term interest rates are most sensitive to the activity of the Federal Reserve – which hiked the federal funds rate a third time for the year in September – the market dictates long-term rates.
It is is used as a benchmark for many other types of debt, including corporate and agency bonds (like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac). Movements in the 10-year government rate can also have a direct impact on consumers, too.
The rate is a barometer for 30-year fixed mortgage rates, auto loans, student loans and credit card annual percentage rates.
The long-term chart of these rates shows how they all move in tandem with the 10-year yield.
10-year Treasury rate vs. mortgages, auto loans and corporate debt (click to enlarge)
Source: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve, Freddie Mac. Retrieved from FRED.
The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rate decreased 1 basis point to 4.71 percent last week, just off the highest level in seven years, according to Freddie Mac.
Here is a list of the financial instruments the 10-year Treasury yield impacts:
- Corporate bond rates
- 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rates
- Credit card annual percentage rates
- Auto loans
- Student loan rates
- Personal loan rates
- Savings interest rates
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