The Fed made this announcement and the ETF we use to short the Treasury bond, TBT, took a nose dive.
FAQs on Fed Monetization of US Debt
Fed to start buying Treasurys on Wednesday
By Deborah Levine
2:58 p.m. EDT March 24, 2009
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- The Federal Reserve Bank of New York will begin making purchases Of U.S. Treasury securities on Wednesday, starting with debt maturing between 2016 and 2019.
It will continue purchases on Friday and next week, with some days dedicated to purchases of maturities as short as 2-year notes with others for debt maturing in 17 to 30 years, it said in a schedule posted on its website Tuesday.
It did not indicate how much it would buy. The Fed announced last Wednesday it would purchase up to $3000 billion in Treasurys over the next six months. Treasurys rallied, with yields on 10-year notes (UST10Y UST10Y) paring an earlier increase to traded up 1 basis point to 2.66%.
I always try to think before I talk. Do not misunderstand me. I am not advocating in the slightest that we become mutes with our voices stilled because of fear of criticism of what we might say. That is moral cowardice. And moral cowardice that keeps us from speaking our minds is as dangerous to this country as irresponsible talk. The right way is not always the popular and easy way. Standing for right when it is unpopular is a true test of moral character.
Margaret Chase Smith, June 1983