The past three years have been a period of intense trials for the global economy, with the pandemic causing a general decline in the global financial market.
Under such circumstances, most countries would opt for a variety of investment methods to ensure the normal operation and long-term development of national funds.
As the world's largest economy, the US dollar continues to enjoy high liquidity in countries around the world.
Naturally, investing in US Treasury bonds has become an economic investment method for many countries.
So, how has the US bond market changed under the influence of the pandemic?
Firstly, with the rise in US economic inflation, the yield rates of US bonds may decrease accordingly; secondly, the increase in fiscal stimulus and government spending has led to a significant increase in the issuance of US Treasury bonds.
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In addition, influenced by global interest rate changes, if the interest rates of other countries rise, it is very likely to lead to a reduction in investors in the US bond market, and vice versa.
At the same time, the US fiscal policy is also a significant factor; if the US reduces spending and increases taxes, it will also reduce the demand for US Treasury bonds.
Having said all this, what exactly are US bonds, and why do they have such a significant impact?
How do US bonds serve as a form of national economic investment?
Simply put, US bonds are bonds issued by the US government to raise funds from the public.
These bonds typically have a fixed interest rate and maturity date and are traded in the market.
The US bond market is very large and active, being one of the largest bond markets in the world, and has an important impact on the global economy and financial markets.
As an economic investment tool, US bonds, when used appropriately, can help countries diversify investment risks, earn profits, and obtain stable cash flow through regular interest income, among other benefits.
In response to the various changes in the US bond situation, how will countries react to the US?
What kind of changes will the global economic situation undergo as a result?
Don't worry, let's look at it slowly.
The latest data show that US Treasury bonds remain the largest bond market globally, attracting a large number of international investors.
China is one of the largest holders of US bonds.
A significant portion of China's foreign exchange reserves is in US dollar assets, including a substantial amount of US bonds.
Japan is also an important holder of US bonds.
Due to Japan's relatively small bond market, the Japanese government usually invests a part of its foreign exchange reserves in US bonds.
Domestic institutions and individuals in the US are also significant investors in US bonds.
They may purchase US bonds to preserve and increase the value of their assets.
In addition to China, Japan, and domestic US institutions and individuals, other countries and regions may also invest in US bonds.
These investors may choose different maturities and different yield US bonds for investment based on their own needs and risk preferences.
However, the latest data show that countries are reporting a halt in the purchase of US bonds.
Why is this the case?
Let's continue to look.
The halt in purchasing US bonds generally refers to investors no longer continuing to buy US bonds.
The reasons for this are inevitably related to the economic situation of countries and the world.
First, the rise in market risks and the decline in investment returns are the most likely to directly lead to a halt in the purchase of US bonds by other countries.
In this situation, many countries would choose to wait and see rather than blindly invest in US bonds.
If investors find other better investment opportunities, such as stocks and real estate, they may reduce their investment in US bonds.
In this case, investors may stop buying US bonds.
In addition, if the supply of US Treasury bonds increases, investors may also reduce their purchases of US bonds.
In this situation, the sale of US bonds may also be halted.
It must be said that the impact of the pandemic on the global economy is devastating, and the turmoil in the financial market has also made countries more cautious, so it is not surprising that the sale of US bonds has been halted.
However, in this situation, a surprising scene has occurred.
China, as one of the strongest competitors of the US today, has chosen to support the US and buy a large amount of US bonds.
What exactly is going on?
What benefits does this bring to China?
There is certainly a reason for this.
As one of the world's largest trading nations, most of China's foreign exchange reserves are in the form of US dollar assets.
Therefore, China needs to ensure the diversification of its foreign exchange reserves to reduce its dependence on US dollar assets.
Buying US bonds is a way to achieve diversification of foreign exchange reserves.
In addition, a considerable part of China's investment portfolio is in US dollar assets, and buying US bonds can also meet the needs of diversifying its investment portfolio.
Apart from the considerations of diversifying foreign exchange reserves and investment portfolios, China may also choose to buy US bonds out of considerations for diversifying investment risks and obtaining higher investment returns.
Although the yield of US bonds has a significant risk of falling, it is generally higher than other assets, so China may buy US bonds to obtain higher investment returns.
Of course, China may also invest in US bonds in other ways, such as through domestic financial institutions or through overseas investment institutions.
However, investing in the US market by buying US bonds is still a relatively simple and direct way.
Therefore, overall, despite the unstable environment, China still has enough capital and confidence to invest in US bonds, which is also a testament to China's strength as a major power.