Regime: Mixed / balanced macro regime — Bias: focus on carry and security selection; no strong tilt for bonds vs equities.
Green = Long duration bias • Blue = Neutral carry & curve RV (relative value) • Orange/Red = Short duration or steepeners
+3 to +9 = Duration long bias-2 to +2 = Neutral carry and curve RV (relative value)-3 to -9 = Short duration or steepeners
How to read time frames:
Short term (3 mo–1 y): Focus on market psychology and current policy shifts.
Medium term (3–5 y): Capture cycles — tightening vs easing.
Long term (10 y+): Identify secular trends in inflation, yields, and term premium.
Macro Recession Risk (slow-cycle)
Four slow-moving pillars with quick badges and tiny sparklines. Green = calm, Amber = watch, Red = stress.
Curve Slope DGS10 - DGS2
Source: FRED DGS10, DGS2.
Measures the gap between 10-year and 2-year Treasury yields. A negative slope (inversion) signals markets expect future rate cuts and rising recession risk, which is typically bullish for long-duration bonds. Watch for deepening inversions and the re-steepening from negative territory as the policy cycle turns.
Breakevens and 5y5y
Source: FRED T5YIE, T10YIE, T5YIFR.
Measures market-implied inflation expectations derived from TIPS spreads and a 5y5y forward rate. Falling breakevens indicate easing inflation pressures and are generally bond-friendly. A subdued 5y5y (roughly at or below ~2.25%) supports duration longs; persistent rises warn of inflation risk.
Financial Conditions — NFCI
Source: Chicago Fed NFCI.
Measures a weekly composite of money, credit, and equity conditions. Higher values reflect tighter financial conditions, which tend to precede slower growth and policy easing—usually supportive for Treasuries. Sustained moves above 0 often flag a risk-off regime.
Initial Jobless Claims — ICSA
Source: U.S. DOL via FRED.
Measures weekly new filings for unemployment benefits. A persistent uptrend signals labor-market softening and rising recession risk—typically bullish for bonds. Track the 4-week average and rising trends above ~250–300k.
Term Premium — 10y
Source: FRED THREEFYTP10.
Measures the extra yield investors demand for holding long bonds beyond the expected path of short rates. Falling term premium suggests strong demand/safe-haven flows; sharp increases can push long yields higher even as the market prices cuts. Treat spikes as a warning for duration.
Credit Spreads — HY OAS
Source: FRED BAMLH0A0HYM2.
Measures the option-adjusted spread of high-yield bonds over Treasuries. Widening spreads signal risk-off conditions and often coincide with rallies in safe duration; tightening spreads indicate risk-on and upward pressure on yields. Levels above ~6–7% often indicate stress; below ~4% suggest complacency.
Deep inversion* — what it means
The Deep Inversion control defines how negative the yield curve (10-year minus 2-year Treasury spread) must be before the chart flags conditions as “dangerous” and colors the curve red. It’s a way to visualize how inverted the yield curve is — one of the most reliable macro recession indicators.
10Y–2Y Spread
Interpretation
Typical Meaning
> 0.00%
Normal / upward-sloping
Healthy expansion, bonds less attractive short-term
0.00 → −0.25%
Mild inversion
Market starting to expect rate cuts — soft landing still possible