(Bloomberg) — JPMorgan Chase & Co. is cutting its forecasts for yields on longer-maturity Treasuries even as it stands by its call for the Federal Reserve to begin raising interest rates in September. The reason: oil.
Tumbling energy prices will weigh down the outlook for inflation, supporting demand for longer-term debt, say analysts at the bank, one of the 22 primary dealers that underwrite U.S. government securities and trade directly with the central bank. That'll reduce their yield premium over shorter-maturity notes as the Fed begins tightening monetary policy, they forecast.
"Global demand for longer-term Treasuries remains strong and inflation expectations remain muted," analysts including Jay Barry, Bruce Sun and Phoebe White wrote in a report dated Aug. 7. "We continue to view short-term yields as underestimating both the timing and pace of the coming Fed rate hikes."
After cutting its oil price estimates, JPMorgan lowered its year-end forecast for 10-year Treasury note yields to 2.50 percent from 2.55 percent, while holding predictions for two- year notes at 1.25 percent.
