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Treasury doubles long-term bond buybacks
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The gist
U.S. Treasury doubles long-term bond buybacks to at least $4 billion per operation. The move aims to boost liquidity and curb rising yields.
Background
Long-term Treasury yields hit 20-year highs this week, with the 30-year yield reaching its highest since 2007, driven by inflation concerns and a buyers' strike in the longer-dated market. The Treasury's announcement on Wednesday to at least double its buyback operations from $2 billion to $4 billion is an effort to provide liquidity support and stabilize the bond market.
How it unfolded
- late June 2026Longer-dated Treasury market experienced a buyers' strike, with investors selling off bonds and pushing yields higher.
- Aug 19, 2026Treasury Department announced it will at least double the maximum size of its liquidity support buyback operations for longer-dated bonds, from $2 billion to at least $4 billion per operation, effective Sept. 9.
- Aug 19, 2026Yields on longer-term Treasuries dropped sharply following the announcement, as the market reacted positively to the increased buyback size.
Who’s saying what
- Treasury
- The increase reflects Treasury's desire to provide greater liquidity support in longer-dated nominal sectors where there is consistent strong sponsorship from market participants.
- Analysts
- Jim Bullard, former St. Louis Fed president, called it 'an important tactical move' but noted it doesn't change the fundamentals of big fiscal deficits and a Fed on the sidelines.