Read the highlights of this week’s commentary from Helios:
- Bond yields surged this week after a weak long-term Treasury auction and a downgrade of the U.S. credit rating, pushing the 10- year yield above 4.6% and the 30-year above 5.1%. The dollar fell as investors weighed rising yields against concerns about growing U.S. debt and increased government borrowing. Mortgage rates briefly topped 7% mid-week, the highest in several months.
- U.S. business activity picked up in May, with both manufacturing and services Purchasing Managers’ Indexes (PMIs) rising to 52.3, signaling modest growth. A temporary easing of tariffs boosted confidence, but inflation pressures increased, especially in services. Input prices surged, and employment softened slightly, suggesting firms are cautious about future demand.
- U.S. customs duties hit a record $16.5 billion in April under President Trump’s universal tariffs, though still below his $2 billion/day goal. Tariffs now range from 10% to 51% on key imports. Total May collections, including excise taxes, are set to reach $22.3 billion, the highest monthly total in dollar terms.
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