(The Epoch Times)—Foreign investment in U.S. bonds surged for the fifth consecutive month as Treasury securities offer attractive yields.
Treasury International Capital (TIC) data published on Nov. 18 show foreign investors purchased $169 billion in U.S. government bonds in September, totaling a record $8.673 trillion.
Foreign investors bought a mix of short- and long-term bonds. Treasury bills—maturities between 30 days and 1 year—continue to appeal to bond investors, providing yields as high as 4.6 percent.
Japan and China, the two largest holders of U.S. debt, trimmed their holdings in September.
Tokyo erased about $6 billion, lowering its portfolio of Treasury securities to $1.123 trillion. Beijing reduced its holdings of U.S. government bonds by more than $2 billion to $772 billion.
While China has steadily decreased its exposure to Treasurys over the past several years, its holdings have changed little since September 2023.
Belgium ($41 billion), the United Kingdom ($21 billion), France ($16 billion), and Singapore ($9 billion) were the leading buyers, TIC figures show.
Hong Kong was the only other foreign market to register a nearly $3 billion decline.
The trend of foreign investment into U.S. Treasury securities has been unsurprising, given their vast demand at auctions over the last several months.
During the $42 billion auction of 10-year bonds on Nov. 5, indirect bidders—commonly foreign entities—purchased 62 percent of the supply. Direct bidders—domestic investors—bought less than a quarter of the issued bonds.
- Preserve your retirement with physical precious metals. Receive your free gold guide from Genesis Precious Metals to learn how.
Foreign investors also acquired nearly two-thirds of the supply of 30-year bonds at the $25 billion auction on Nov. 6.
The yields in the United States bond market are some of the highest in the world. The U.S. Treasury market is also one of the largest and most liquid corners of international financial markets. Investors are hungry for yields with central banks unwinding their restrictive policy stances and launching a new easing cycle by cutting interest rates.
Despite the Federal Reserve following through on its rate-cut endeavors, Treasury securities have remained elevated. The benchmark 10-year Treasury yield, for example, has climbed nearly 80 basis points since the Fed lowered the federal funds rate for the first time in more than four years in September. As of Nov. 19, the 10-year bond is hovering at about 4.4 percent.
Treasury yield increases have also helped support the U.S. dollar.
The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY), a gauge of the greenback against a weighted basket of currencies, has surged nearly 2 percent over the past month, lifting its year-to-date gain to close to 5 percent. It also rallied to a one-year high of above 107.00 on Nov. 14.
The international reserve currency has rocketed on the futures market recently, shifting Fed policy expectations, with investors penciling only three quarter-point rate cuts by the end of next year, according to the CME FedWatch Tool.
“The potential for fewer cuts from the Fed and a more dovish ECB [European Central Bank] has been a big factor behind the dollar’s advance over the last few months,” said Adam Turnquist, the chief technical strategist at LPL Financial, in a note emailed to The Epoch Times.
Charles Seville, the senior director at Fitch Economics, believes the ECB will reduce interest rates faster amid weakening economic data.
“Although unemployment has yet to rise, labour markets are cooling and wage pressures subsiding,” Seville said in a research note last month.
“Past monetary tightening is clearly still affecting the economy. The ECB appears concerned that eurozone economic growth will undershoot its September forecasts, putting more downside pressure on inflation when it’s already close to target.”
The rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee will hold its next two-day policy meeting on Dec. 17 and 18.
The U.S. dollar’s future direction will also depend on Wall Street’s confidence that President-elect Donald Trump will extend the expiring Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and enact his sweeping tariff plans.
While a strengthening dollar benefits consumers and importers, it can also harm domestic companies that export their goods and services to foreign markets. The president-elect and his team have previously questioned the long-standing strong-dollar policy as they try to resurrect U.S. manufacturing.
“We have a big currency problem,” Trump told Bloomberg Businessweek this past summer, calling it a “tremendous burden” on U.S. businesses.
“Nobody wants to buy our product because it’s too expensive.”
However, Trump also pledged to protect the dollar hegemony and its chief reserve currency status, telling an audience of business leaders at the Economic Club of Chicago in October that the country could transition to “third-world status” if it the king dollar were dethroned.
It’s becoming increasingly clear that fiat currencies across the globe, including the U.S. Dollar, are under attack. Paper money is losing its value, translating into insane inflation and less value in our life’s savings.
Genesis Gold Group believes physical precious metals are an amazing option for those seeking to move their wealth or retirement to higher ground. Whether Central Bank Digital Currencies replace current fiat currencies or not, precious metals are poised to retain or even increase in value. This is why central banks and mega-asset managers like BlackRock are moving much of their holdings to precious metals.
As a Christian company, Genesis Gold Group has maintained a perfect 5 out of 5 rating with the Better Business Bureau. Their faith-driven values allow them to help Americans protect their life’s savings without the gimmicks used by most precious metals companies. Reach out to them today to see how they can streamline the rollover or transfer of your current and previous retirement accounts.
Angry Leftists Plot to Tank Trump Economy by Not Spending Any Money Once He’s in Office
by The Gateway Pundit
Most people are expecting the economy to improve under Trump and these people don’t want that to happen, or at least don’t want Trump to get any credit for it. They would rather that people remain miserable than see Trump and the country do well. Breitbart News reports: Leftists Pledge…
Ohio Man Faces Prison Term for Laundering More Than $300 Million in Bitcoin
by The Epoch Times
Ohio-based Larry Dean Harmon has been sentenced to three years in prison for operating a cryptocurrency service used by criminals for laundering millions of dollars, according to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). Harmon, 41, ran a Bitcoin mixer called Helix that was “highly sought after by online drug dealers…
Sabotage: Two Undersea Internet Cables Connecting Four NATO Nations Were Severed
by Publius
Many in the international community are claiming sabotage as the only viable explanation for two fiber optic internet cables in the Baltic Sea being severed less than 24-hours apart. Fingers are being pointed at Russia as one of the the cables connected NATO nations Germany and Finland. The latter was…
“Massive Breach”: T-Mobile Network Hacked by Chinese State Sponsored Intelligence
by Tyler Durden, Zero Hedge
(Zero Hedge)—Where’s John Legere in a pink t-shirt when you need him? Among the multiple stories over the last few weeks about Chinese intelligence and hackers either attempting to, or outright gaining access, to U.S. cell phone networks (with reports stating President Trump and his team were targeted), comes news…
Income Needed to Afford a Home Hits Record High in U.S. Cities
by Dallas Express
Owning a single-family home in the U.S. now requires an average annual income of $107,700, nearly double the income needed in 2019, according to a new report by Oxford Economics. This increase is attributed to soaring home prices and nearly doubled mortgage rates over the past five years, the New…
Senators Ask Cyber Review Board to Conduct Investigation on Chinese Hack Group
by The Epoch Times
A bipartisan group of senators has urged a federal review board to immediately begin an investigation into a Chinese hacking group’s attacks against the United States, according to a recent letter sent to Robert Silvers, undersecretary for policy at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Led by Sen. Eric Schmitt…
Russian Officials Believe That “NATO Has Gone to War With Russia”
by Michael Snyder
Editor’s Commentary: Before we get into the article and video below by Michael Snyder, I want to make an important note. I do not believe that Russia is in any condition to actually go to war with NATO. I also do not believe that Donald Trump is, in any way,…
‘That’s Not Helpful’: Harris Faulkner Slams Dem Guest After He Claims Americans Don’t Understand How Strong Economy Is
by Daily Caller
Fox News host Harris Faulkner called out a Democratic guest Monday after he claimed American voters didn’t understand that the economy was “strong.” President-elect Donald Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris, securing more than the 270 electoral votes necessary to win the presidency in the early morning of Nov. 6…
Global Propagandists Find Out: AP to Slash Staff by 8% as Major News Outlets Stop Buying Its Content
by JD Rucker
Everyone in legacy corporate media is struggling with the possible exception of Fox News. Following Donald Trump’s election victory, the writing on the wall that legacy media has been pretending wasn’t there became too bright to ignore. The people don’t trust the media. It’s not because of the Trump victory….
Trump to Declare a National Emergency to Conduct Mass Deportations
by Tyler Durden, Zero Hedge
(ZeroHedge)—President-elect Donald Trump confirmed Monday that he will declare a national emergency to carry out mass deportations. In response to Judicial Watch president Tom Fitton’s post on Truth Social that Trump was “prepared to declare a national emergency and will use military assets to reverse the Biden invasion through a…
Gov. Youngkin’s Executive Order Seeks to Address Virginia’s Housing Shortage
by Just The News
From now on, economic and housing development will be tied more closely together in Virginia, according to the latest executive order from the governor. Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued and announced Executive Order 42 in Thursday at the annual Virginia Governor’s Housing Conference. The order brings the commonwealth’s economic development and…
“Hopefully No More”: How Trump Appointments Could Sway the Balance of Power in the House
by Owen Klinsky, DCNF
(DCNF)—President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet picks could temporarily jeopardize the GOP’s slim majority in the House of Representatives. The GOP has held on to control of the House, securing the 218 seats needed for a majority with five races still yet to be called, according to The Associated Press. However, Trump…
Ramaswamy Expects ‘Mass Reductions’ in Federal Government Under Trump
by Daily Wire
There will be “mass reductions” in the federal government under President-elect Donald Trump‘s second administration, Vivek Ramaswamy predicted this weekend. Ramaswamy, whom Trump picked to lead the brand new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) along with Elon Musk, spoke to Fox News anchor Maria Bartiromo on “Sunday Morning Futures” about…
Texas Again Breaks Its Own Jobs Records
by Bethany Blankley, The Center Square
(The Center Square)—Texas continues to break jobs records every month and October was no different. Texas again grew jobs at a faster annual rate than the national job growth rate over the year in October. It also set a new record high for the greatest number employed in the civilian…
Congresswoman Nancy Mace to File Resolution Banning New Trans Congressman From Women’s Restrooms
by JD Rucker
Despite all of the amazing victories the GOP had on Election Day in the ongoing battle against wokeness, there was one conspicuous loss. Delaware elected “Sarah” McBride (born “Tim”) as the first trans member of Congress. Congresswoman Nancy Mace is calling on her GOP colleagues to pass a resolution banning…