China is reportedly thinking of halting US Treasury purchases
Author: https://www.facebook.com/CNBC
Description: China, the United States' biggest buyer of sovereign bonds, could be slowing down or even halting its purchases.
Keywords: Investing, China, Stocks, Investing, Finance, Wall Street, U.S. Markets, business news
Date: 2018-01-10T08:02:27-0500

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# China is reportedly thinking of halting US Treasury purchases and that's worrying markets right now

- The report notes that Chinese officials think U.S. debt is becoming less attractive compared with other assets.
- Trade tensions between the two countries could provide a reason to slow down or halt the purchases, according to the report.
- Treasurys and the dollar fell on the report. Gold rose. Stock futures also fell.
- China is the biggest buyer of U.S. sovereign debt.

Fred Imbert | @foimbert
Published 3 Hours Ago Updated 3 Mins Ago CNBC.com
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China is reportedly thinking of halting US Treasury purchases 22 Mins Ago | 00:48

China, the biggest buyer of U.S. sovereign bonds, could be slowing down or even halting its purchases, according to a report.

Bloomberg News reported Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter, that officials in Beijing have recommended the Chinese government lower — or even stop — its buying of U.S. sovereign debt.

The report also notes that Chinese officials think U.S. debt is becoming less attractive compared with other assets, adding that trade tensions between the two countries could provide a reason to slow down or halt the purchases.

Patrik Stalloarz | AFP | Getty Images
China's President Xi Jinping (L) and US President Donald Trump attend a working session on the first day of the G20 summit in Hamburg, northern Germany, on July 7, 2017.

"If China stops buying Treasuries, the market could suffer," strategists at Jefferies said. "Treasury financing needs are going to rise significantly in 2018 and beyond relative to recent history, so Treasury is going to be looking for as many sources of demand as they can find."

The news is worrying markets.

Treasury prices fell, boosting yields. The U.S. dollar also fell against most currencies and gold increased. U.S. equities declined.

"I think the Chinese will contribute to the removal of liquidity from the U.S. bond market," said Michael Shaoul," chairman and CEO of Marketfield Asset Management. "That's not helpful to a bond market that's already under pressure."

A taper in Chinese purchases would come as the Federal Reserve unwinds the massive balance sheet it amassed following the financial crisis. The Fed is also expected to raise rates three times this year. In 2017, the central bank also hiked rates three times.

The U.S. 10-year yield rose to 2.58 percent on Wednesday, hitting levels not seen since last March. The dollar also fell against a basket of major currencies, trading down 0.4 percent at 92.19.

Click here for the full report.

Fred Imbert Markets Reporter

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