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US Dollar: Upside capped as yields ease – MUFG

MUFG’s Lloyd Chan notes the US Dollar weakened after US Treasury Secretary Bessent announced a major expansion of long-dated Treasury buybacks, which pushed long-end yields lower. Chan argues moderating Fed tightening expectations and efforts to contain long-end yields are likely to cap Dollar upside, making a renewed sustained Dollar rally harder without higher US inflation or yields.

Dollar upside constrained by buybacks

"The US dollar weakened after US Treasury Secretary Bessent announced a significant expansion of long-dated Treasury buyback operations, a move to ease pressure from rising long-end yields."

"Looking ahead, moderating Fed tightening expectations and Treasury efforts to contain long-end yields could continue to cap dollar upside."

"Absent a renewed rise in US inflation or yields, the hurdle for another sustained dollar rally is becoming increasingly high."

"While buybacks alone are unlikely to alter longer-term fundamentals, they do signal willingness by policymakers to lean against further yield increases."

"This suggests the relative-rate story that has supported the dollar is fading."

(This article was created with the help of an Artificial Intelligence tool and reviewed by an editor. Know more.)

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FXStreet Insights Team

The FXStreet Insights Team is a group of journalists that handpicks selected market observations published by renowned experts. The content includes notes by commercial as well as additional insights by internal and external analysts.

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The bond coup
Yesterday was marked by a coup from the US Treasury, which suddenly announced that it will ‘at least double’ the maximum size of its buyback operations for longer-term debt, hoping to ease pressure on long-term yields and borrowing costs. Phoah! The markets reacted heavily to the news. The US 10-year yield fell sharply, while the 30-year yield dropped from its highest levels since 2007.
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The US Treasury moved off its own calendar on Wednesday, and that is the part worth sitting with. At 12:32 GMT, the department said it would at least double the size of liquidity support buyback operations in the 10-year to 20-year and 20-year to 30-year sectors, lifting the maximum from $2 billion per operation to at least $4 billion, effective September 9 and running to November 4.