HALISTER1: ‘Peak Pessimism’ on Fed Terminal Rate Favors Steepeners: BofA

‘Peak Pessimism’ on Fed Terminal Rate Favors Steepeners: BofA

(Bloomberg) -- UST 3s7s curve bear steepens “in every simulated scenario” where the market is shocked by a higher terminal Fed rate, and 3s7s steepeners should also benefit if Fed balance sheet runoff “has a larger impact on mortgages than initially suspected,” Bank of America strategists Shyam Rajan and Carol Zhang write in July 21 note.
  • “Given our belief that we are already near peak pessimism on the terminal rate, the shock to markets from here will likely be a shift higher”
  • After advocating 5s30s bear flattening “for some time now,” BofA says “it’s time to shift focus”
  • Favored expression is 2y forward 3s7s conditional bear steepener
  • Trade “should expire out of the money in a rally in case the terminal rate is shocked lower” and “benefit in any shift to the right” on their terminal rate grid
To contact the reporter on this story: Anna Windemuth in New York at awindemuth1@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Boris Korby at bkorby1@bloomberg.net Elizabeth Stanton

Alert: HALISTER1
Source: BFW (Bloomberg First Word)

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Carol Zhang (Bank of America Corp)
Shyam Rajan (Bank of America Corp)

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