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Treasury bond yields (or rates) are tracked by investors for many reasons. The yields are paid by the U.S. government as interest for borrowing money via selling the bond. But what does this mean, and how do you find yield information?
Treasury Bills are loans to the federal government that mature at terms ranging from a few days to 52 weeks. A Treasury Note matures in two to 10 years, while a Treasury Bond matures in 20 or 30 years.
The 10-year Treasury yield is closely watched as an indicator of broader investor confidence. Because Treasury bills, notes, and bonds carry the full backing of the U.S. government, they are viewed as the safest investment.
Key Takeaways
- Treasury securities are loans to the federal government. Maturities range from weeks to as many as 30 years.
- Because they are backed by the U.S. government, Treasury securities are seen as a safer investment relative to stocks.
- Bond prices and yields move in opposite directions—falling prices boost yields, while rising prices lower yields.
- The 10-year yield is used as a proxy for mortgage rates. It’s also seen as a sign of investor sentiment about the economy.
- A rising yield indicates falling demand for Treasury bonds, which means investors prefer higher-risk, higher-reward investments. A falling yield suggests the opposite.
Why Is the 10-Year Treasury Yield So Important?
The importance of the 10-year Treasury bond yield goes beyond just understanding the return on investment for the security. The 10-year is used as a proxy for many other important financial matters, such as mortgage rates.
This bond also tends to signal investor confidence. The U.S Treasury sells bonds via auction and yields are set through a bidding process. When confidence is high, prices for the 10-year drop, and yields rise. This is because investors feel they can find higher-returning investments elsewhere and do not feel they need to play it safe.
But when confidence is low, bond prices rise and yields fall, as there is more demand for this safe investment. This confidence factor is also felt outside of the U.S. The geopolitical situations of other countries can affect U.S. government bond prices, as the U.S. is seen as safe haven for capital. This can push up prices of U.S. government bonds as demand increases, thus lowering yields.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury issues four types of debt to finance government spending: Treasury bonds, Treasury bills, Treasury notes, and Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS). Each vary by maturity and coupon payments.
Another factor related to the yield is the time to maturity. The longer the Treasury bond’s time to maturity, the higher the rates (or yields) because investors demand to get paid more the longer their money is tied up. Typically, short-term debt pays lower yields than long-term debt, which is called a normal yield curve. But at times the yield curve can be inverted, with shorter maturities paying higher yields.
The 10-year Treasury is an economic indicator. Its yield provides information about investor confidence. While historical yield ranges do not appear wide, any basis point movement is a signal to the market.
Changing Yields Over Time
Because 10-year Treasury yields are so closely scrutinized, knowledge of its historical patterns is integral to understanding how today’s yields fare as compared to historical rates. Below is a chart of the yields going back a decade.
While rates do not have a wide dispersion, any change is considered highly significant. Large changes of 100 basis points over time can redefine the economic landscape.
Perhaps the most relevant aspect is in comparing current rates with historical rates, or following the trend to analyze whether near-term rates will rise or fall based on historical patterns. Using the U.S. Treasury website, investors can easily analyze historical 10-year Treasury bond yields.
