| yield curve At any particular time, the relation between bond yields and maturity lengths. The yield curve usually has a positive slope because yields on long-term bonds generally exceed yields on short-term bonds. The shape of a yield curve is influenced by a number of factors including the relative riskiness between long-term and short-term securities and by investors' expectations as to the level of future interest rates. Also called term structure of interest rates. See also expectations hypothesis, flat yield curve, negative yield curve, positive yield curve, riding the yield curve. Case Study Long-term interest rates are generally higher than short-term rates, resulting in a yield curve that slopes upward. An upward-sloping yield curve was in place in fall 2001 when six-month Treasury bills were yielding 2% at the same time that 30-year Treasury bonds were selling to yield slightly over 5%. Despite the relatively steep slope of the curve, many bond traders were convinced the slope would grow even steeper. That is, they believed short-term interest rates would continue to fall at the same time long-term rates remained steady or moved upward. The Federal Reserve was actively pursuing an easy money policy to stimulate a weakening economy. The September 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon accelerated the economic decline with major corporate layoffs, reductions in industrial output, and increased business bankruptcies. The attack also made it likely that the U.S. Treasury would increase spending, thereby borrowing more and selling more Treasury bonds. The increased borrowing would result in higher long-term interest rates and reduced prices for Treasury bonds. At least, that was the theory. In this environment many bond traders decided to take an investment position that allowed them to profit from a steeper yield curve. Traders took a bullish position (bought) in short-term Treasuries they thought would increase in price, and at the same time they assumed a bearish position (sold) in long-term Treasuries they thought would decline in price. This investment strategy came tumbling down on October 31, when the U.S. Treasury made a surprise announcement that it would quit selling 30-year bonds. The announcement caused a major price increase in these bonds that in a two-day period reduced yields from 5.25% to about 4.8%. What seemed a sure thing among sophisticated investors turned into a nightmare as a bearish bet on long-term Treasuries went bad for a reason none of the participants had foreseen. |
Yield curve. A yield curve shows the relationship between the yields on short-term and long-term bonds of the same investment quality.
Since long-term yields are characteristically higher than short-term yields, a yield curve that confirms that expectation is described as positive. In contrast, a negative yield curve occurs when short-term yields are higher.
A flat or level yield curve occurs when the yields are substantially the same on bonds with varying terms.
A negative yield curve has generally been considered a warning sign that the economy is slowing and that a recession is likely.
What Does Yield Curve Mean?
The line on a chart that plots the interest rates, at a set point in time, of bonds that have equal credit quality but different maturity dates. The most frequently reported yield curve compares 3-month, 2-year, 5-year, and 30-year U.S. Treasury debt. This yield curve is used as a benchmark for other debt in the market, such as mortgage rates and bank lending rates. The curve also can be used to predict changes in economic output and growth.
Investopedia explains Yield Curve
The shape of the yield curve is scrutinized closely because it can indicate future changes in interest rates and economic activity. There are three main types of yield curve shapes: (1) normal, (2) inverted, and (3) flat (or humped). (1) A normal yield curve (pictured here) is one in which longer-maturity bonds have a higher yield than do shorter-term bonds because of the risks associated with time. (2) An inverted yield curve is one in which the shorter-term yields are higher than the longer-term yields; this can be a sign of an upcoming recession. (3) A flat (or humped) yield curve is one in which the shorter-term and longer-term yields are very close to each other; this is also a predictor of an economic transition. The slope of the yield curve also is considered important: the greater the slope, the greater the gap between short-term and long-term rates.
Related Terms:
• Corporate Bond
• Interest Rate
• Inverted Yield Curve
• Risk-Free Rate of Return
• U.S. Treasury
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