Short term interest rates and bond yields

Discussion in 'CA1' started by ST6_aspirant, Jun 20, 2016.

  1. ST6_aspirant

    ST6_aspirant Member

    Does an increase in short term interest rates cause bond yields to rise? If so, why?
     
  2. Steve Hales

    Steve Hales ActEd Tutor Staff Member

    It depends which bond yields you're talking about. Short-dated bonds and short-term interest rates are substitute goods, and so will move together. If this wasn't the case then an arbitrage opportunity would exist to make a risk-free profit.
    It's not quite so clear with long-term bond yields; there are a number of issues in play. If short-term interest rates do down, then you might expect there to be an overall downward shift in the bond yield curve, but there are potentially inflationary pressures which are strongest at the long end which makes the result indeterminate.
     
  3. ST6_aspirant

    ST6_aspirant Member

    Very well understood. Thanks!
     

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