Two Important Points On The Yield Curve And Spreads

In my post this morning on Yield Curve and Spreads: Fed’s Real Policy Error in Pictures; What’s Next? there were two important points I intended to make but didn’t. First here’s a repeat of two charts.

Yield Curve 1998-2015 (Year-End Values)

Values for 2015 are from the December 16 close, the day the Fed hiked.

Yield Curve Differentials 1998-2015 (Year-End Values)

Two Important Points

The tightening of the yield curve so early in the lead-up and initial stage of Fed rate hikes is both unprecedented and recessionary-looking.

It’s highly likely that tightening reflects bond market concerns about a slowing economy and various economic bubbles that are about to pop.

If the economy was strengthening as widely believed, the yield curve ought to be widening, not collapsing.

Greenspan’s first hike in four years was on 2004-06-30. Check out the yield curve and differentials ahead of and right after that hike. Compare to today.

Those who believe the yield curve must invert before a recession hits, need think about those two important points in addition to taking a look at recession in Japan.

A recession without a preceding yield curve inversion has not happened in the US before, but neither have yield spread differentials collapsed in the initial stages of a Fed tightening cycle.