Cash is king and the dollar is king of cash

Treasury yields

Yields on US Treasuries, considered the safest of all investments, have climbed sharply as investors sold bonds taking advantage of record prices and expecting large new supplies in the weeks ahead as the government prepares an economic stimulus package that could top $1 trillion.

The return on the benchmark 10-year bond touched 1.226% on Wednesday, 73 basis points above its all- time low on March 9^th at 0.498%, before dropping back to 1.10%.

10-year Treasury yield 

On Tuesday the yield had added 30 points as the Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin detailed plans that the administration was formulating with Congress for a massive economic support package that would likely include direct payments to Americans.

US dollar

The US dollar has resumed its first choice safety status reaching multi-year highs against  the Canadian dollar, the kiwi and the Australian dollar and rising sharply versus the yen and the euro. Foreign central banks have also been large buyer of the US currency.

The sterling fell below 1.1800 a level not seen for more than a generation. 

Initial jobless claims

Markets are positioning for a recession of unknown length probably starting in the second quarter as many employees are working from home, furloughed or otherwise less productive. 

One key metric to watch will be the initial jobless claims figure, released every Thursday by the Labor Department.  The number for the March 13 week, issued tomorrow, should begin to rise if business cutbacks and closures are putting people out of work.

Initial jobless claims

The administration expects to begin sending checks to Americans within the next two weeks.  The stimulus package, which requires Congressional approval, will include $500 to $550 billion in individual aid or tax cuts, $200 to $300 billion in small business assistance and $50 to $100 billion to industries heavily affected such as airlines, travel and others.