SEC nominee Atkins defends role in 2008 financial crisis

The Senate Banking Committee considered the nomination of Paul Atkins to lead the Securities and Exchange Commission, whose track record on deregulation in the lead up to the 2008 financial crisis was questioned by Democratic lawmakers. Lawmakers also considered the nomination of Jonathan Gould to lead the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and Luke Pettit for a key bank regulatory role at Treasury.

Uneventful Drift Ahead of Friday’s Monthly PCE Data

Uneventful Drift Ahead of Friday’s Monthly PCE Data

For the 3rd day in a row, the bond market logged a rather uneventful trading session ending with minimal change versus the previous trading day.  All this despite the presence of several economic reports and Treasury auctions. If there was any reaction to this morning’s data, it was slightly bond-friendly, but not enough to say it was anything other than random. The 7yr auction was a non-event, and stocks failed to offer any of the recent sort of spillover that has frequently made its way into the bond market. From here, the week’s last big chance/risk of volatility is Friday morning’s monthly PCE data.

Econ Data / Events

Jobless Claims

224k vs 225k f’cast, 225k prev

Continued Claims

1856k vs 1890k f’cast, 1881k prev

GDP Revision (Q4)

2.4 vs 2.3 prev

Market Movement Recap

09:06 AM Weaker overnight but improving after data.  MBS up 1 tick (.03) and 10yr up half a bp at 4.358.

01:04 PM No major reaction to 7yr auction.  MBS down 1 tick (.03) and 10yr up 1.6bps at 4.368

03:21 PM Sideways still.  MBS down 1 tick (0.03) and 10yr up 2.1bps at 4.374

Narrow Trading, Weaker Drift; MBS Live Threads Intro

Narrow Trading, Weaker Drift; MBS Live Threads Intro

Bonds began the day in weaker territory but found a bit on the latest tariff headlines (bad for stocks, good for bonds).  As has been typical of tariff headline reactions, the movement wasn’t big and it didn’t last long.  A ho-hum 5yr Treasury auction paved the way for one last attempt at gains, but bonds gave up in the PM hours with both MBS and Treasuries drifting to their weakest levels of the day.  That said, the range is still narrow and nothing of major consequence transpired today.  In other news, today’s video recap has an introduction to a new MBS Live feature: Threads! 

Econ Data / Events

Durable Goods

0.9 vs -1.0 f’cast, 3.3 prev

Market Movement Recap

09:59 AM Weaker overnight, but flat in early trading.  MBS down 2 ticks (.06) and 10yr up 2.5bps at 4.342

12:54 PM Some mid-day recovery on tariff headlines (probably).  MBS down only 1 tick (0.03) and 10yr up 2.2bps at 4.339

04:09 PM Heading out near weakest levels.  MBS down an eighth and 10yr up 3.1bps at 4.348