Japanese Investors Sell $29.6 Billion in U.S. Bonds in Three Months

Japan's international balance of payments data released on Wednesday revealed that Japanese investors sold a net total of 4.67 trillion yen, equivalent to $29.6 billion, in U.S. Treasury, agency, and municipal bonds in the three months ending March 31. According to Odaily, this marks the highest level since the second quarter of 2022. In February, the overnight index swap market indicated that traders initially expected the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates twice this year. However, following tensions between the U.S. and Israel impacting the situation in Iran, crude oil prices surged by approximately 50%, leading to increased inflation expectations and a shift in rate pricing towards a Federal Reserve rate hike.