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$29 Billion 1 Month Bill Prices at... 0.000%

Tyler Durden's picture




Welcome to ACME bond auctions. This is the world of looney tunes where Tim and Ben, the rescue rangers, run the printing press and the toilet paper issuance facility.

Also, do primary dealers feel like 0.000% is an attractive rate all of a sudden? $102 billion tendered. Hmm, who'd a thunk it.




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Tue, 12/08/2009 - 16:18 | Link to Comment Project Mayhem
Project Mayhem's picture

hahah yup we live in a Command Economy, comrade Tyler!   Quick, do not let the Politboro see what you have posted!

Tue, 12/08/2009 - 16:20 | Link to Comment Commander Cody
Commander Cody's picture

Does this mean the Fed bought the Treasury's paper?  Or am I missing something?  Who else would be so foolish as to do so?

Tue, 12/08/2009 - 16:43 | Link to Comment Daedal
Daedal's picture

Not foolish, just scared. Yield is predicated on risk. High risk will result in a low yield environment. Also, we're talking about 1 month duration here... If a certain something hits the fan, I wouldn't be surprised if the yield goes negative.

Tue, 12/08/2009 - 18:42 | Link to Comment Howard_Beale
Howard_Beale's picture

The yield in Japan has gone negative many times in the last 15 years--and stayed there for months at a time. This is about perceived risk and also obviously strong demand for a perceived safe haven.

Tue, 12/08/2009 - 16:32 | Link to Comment IE
IE's picture

I can think of some "fools" out there: 

Some believe the dollar will have a (relative) rally ... some are anticipating a dollar carry unwind.

And there are still some folks who - believe it or not - don't think the Fed can print fast enough to overcome the inevitable massive debt deflation. 

 

Tue, 12/08/2009 - 16:35 | Link to Comment Daedal
Daedal's picture

Touche'. In that respect foolish. Parker Brothers should come out with a new version of Monopoly which should include an Epson Printer.

Tue, 12/08/2009 - 16:56 | Link to Comment IE
IE's picture

Would that be the Great Recession Home Version, where you don't actually need money to buy Boardwark and Park Place ... until you go around the board 3 times & hope you have it in the future?

Tue, 12/08/2009 - 17:09 | Link to Comment Daedal
Daedal's picture

That's what the game leads to. In the first half you can mortgage your house at full value and 0.0% interest to buy another property, Boardwalk. If your teammates land on Boardwalk, and they're broke, you'll just charge them interest of 29.99% and hope that they'll be able to collect rental income from their cheaper housing units to make up interest and principal. Watch out though, if you don't make your health insurance payment, do not pass go, do not collect $200 in stimulus, go straight to jail.

Tue, 12/08/2009 - 17:36 | Link to Comment rubberduckie
rubberduckie's picture

"go straight to jail."

Indeed -- what's missing from our recent saga is perp walks.  Trillions up in smoke and almost no one is going to do time?

Tue, 12/08/2009 - 19:40 | Link to Comment ED
ED's picture

>include an Epson Printer.

 

No need. An LCD with room enough for 16 digits will suffice

Tue, 12/08/2009 - 17:54 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/08/2009 - 20:38 | Link to Comment Argos
Argos's picture

Very quantum type thinking.  The cat is both dead AND alive.

Tue, 12/08/2009 - 23:04 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Wed, 12/09/2009 - 01:41 | Link to Comment agrotera
agrotera's picture

my thinking too anony...thank you!

Wed, 12/09/2009 - 03:31 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Wed, 12/09/2009 - 03:41 | Link to Comment Tipo anónimo
Tipo anónimo's picture

Sorry, thought I was already signed in :)

 

Nice work on the black holes.

 

You should get an online persona so we can start building your character.  :D  I'm pretty sure Chumbawamba is a 4' tall green dragon sitting on a pile of gold next to Gordon.

Tue, 12/08/2009 - 16:57 | Link to Comment novanglus
novanglus's picture

I guess it depends where you currently have your money.  If you think that the little experiments that the Fed is running with the swaps and the Money Market funds to drain liquidity might taint your holdings in a MMF, why not move your money to short term bills?  If the crap the Fed shovels in to the MMF blows up, wouldn't the MMF break the buck?  Then your cash would lose value.  On the other hand, at 0%, you can fully expect to get back 100 cents on the dollar from the Treasury.  Make sense?

Tue, 12/08/2009 - 17:44 | Link to Comment Eternal Student
Eternal Student's picture

Yes. People seem to have forgotten the run on MMF's in September of 2008, which prompted Bernake to prop them up.

 

The only thing you left out is deflation. With prices going down, then a safe haven in your own currency at 0% looks real good.

Tue, 12/08/2009 - 18:43 | Link to Comment Brett in Manhattan
Brett in Manhattan's picture

I think so. My guess is that the big players want to keep their powder dry for the next leg down, and the Fed's inevitable raising of rates.

Tue, 12/08/2009 - 16:20 | Link to Comment Hephasteus
Hephasteus's picture

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998_Russian_financial_crisis

Oh no theres a financial CRISIS. I'd watch but I gotta make more predetor drones and launch more space shuttles. Call me when the IMF loans us money.

Tue, 12/08/2009 - 16:32 | Link to Comment Project Mayhem
Project Mayhem's picture

I love the IMF!  Don't you dare talk bad about our global overlords!   Do you hate the planet or something?   Do you want the polar bears to drown, is that it?  

 

New World Order

by Justin Fox

"In the view of many outside the U.S. (and some within), the only way to limit such excesses is through a bigger, more powerful IMF that can act as a central bank to the world--and knock heads when needed."

 

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1877388-1,00.html

Tue, 12/08/2009 - 17:25 | Link to Comment Hephasteus
Hephasteus's picture

Yes more power will fix it. In fact absolute power will fix it. In the hands of the righteous, unfallable, uncorruptable global elite, it'll work perfectly.

I'm going to go turn my lights off to save elecriticity so thier huge monsterous data centers can ferret out ALL THE WRONG DOING ON OUR PLANET.

Tue, 12/08/2009 - 17:29 | Link to Comment Shameful
Shameful's picture

Thank you for posting this!  To many people think that this insanity is all by chance.  Soros didn't back a man into the White House and not expect to profit from it!  Soros says the US is a declining power, and his man is in charge, who wants to bet that Soros is wrong?

Tue, 12/08/2009 - 18:20 | Link to Comment john_connor
john_connor's picture

+10

Wed, 12/09/2009 - 01:49 | Link to Comment agrotera
agrotera's picture

the phrase alone causes me to be terrorized.

Wed, 12/09/2009 - 02:40 | Link to Comment Hephasteus
Hephasteus's picture

Agro. Missed you!! Big hugs.

Tue, 12/08/2009 - 16:24 | Link to Comment Cindy_Dies_In_T...
Cindy_Dies_In_The_End's picture

hahahaha.Luv it!

Tue, 12/08/2009 - 16:25 | Link to Comment Screwball
Screwball's picture

I don't see the bid to cover.  Is this the one that was over 5? I thought that's what I heard on teevee.

Tue, 12/08/2009 - 16:51 | Link to Comment Screwball
Screwball's picture

Thank you.  That's crazy!

Tue, 12/08/2009 - 16:56 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/08/2009 - 19:00 | Link to Comment IE
IE's picture

So ... is that smart money or dumb money chasing those treasuries?

Wed, 12/09/2009 - 10:03 | Link to Comment TumblingDice
TumblingDice's picture

Printed Money

Tue, 12/08/2009 - 16:35 | Link to Comment trav777
trav777's picture

so we got the dollar rallying massively, commodities selling off hard but the SP and Qs go flat?  Worst possible situation for anyone trying to capitalize on this

I mean we got tens of billions, potentially hundreds, willing to sit parked at ZERO fucking percent?  What is this, infinity leverage?

Tue, 12/08/2009 - 16:38 | Link to Comment drbill
drbill's picture

If your name is not HAL9000, you had better be sitting on the sidelines. My mattress is looking like a better and better investment with each passing day of insanity.

Tue, 12/08/2009 - 16:51 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/08/2009 - 17:11 | Link to Comment Hatshepsut7
Hatshepsut7's picture

Hmmmm....indeed, indeed.........

Tue, 12/08/2009 - 16:39 | Link to Comment dot_bust
dot_bust's picture

This would probably be an indication that Dubai has set off a chain reaction of asset liquidation.

Tue, 12/08/2009 - 16:47 | Link to Comment zhandax
zhandax's picture

If your name is not HAL9000, you had better be sitting on the sidelines. My mattress is looking like a better and better investment with each passing day of insanity.

Goldman Sachs....What's in your mattress?

Tue, 12/08/2009 - 16:47 | Link to Comment john_connor
john_connor's picture

And people are talking about Ben raising rates.  LMAO.  If he does, it will just be a political stunt that further sinks the banks and floating debt holders.  ROFL.  BANANA REPUBLIC.

Tue, 12/08/2009 - 16:47 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/08/2009 - 16:50 | Link to Comment Divided States ...
Divided States of America's picture

Why would anyone buy Treasuries yielding 0% and denominated in USD?

Damn, I guess there is so much cash sitting around but its not in my house.

 

Wed, 12/09/2009 - 02:11 | Link to Comment Trifecta Man
Trifecta Man's picture

What if the t-bill buyers had counterfeit cash?  An easy way to convert it?

Tue, 12/08/2009 - 16:50 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/08/2009 - 17:03 | Link to Comment novanglus
novanglus's picture

The Taylor Rule suggests that rates should currently be -6%!

Tue, 12/08/2009 - 17:25 | Link to Comment Daedal
Daedal's picture

I'm sure the FDIC would love that.

Tue, 12/08/2009 - 16:58 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/08/2009 - 17:26 | Link to Comment Shameful
Shameful's picture

This sickens me...where can I borrow at 0%?  I got another school bill comming up and would love to beat my fixed 6.8.  Shit with the fees to by this trash it's paying someone to hold your money...utter lunacy.

Or the more realistic option Uncle Ben is just paying for it with his Fun Bux!

Tue, 12/08/2009 - 17:26 | Link to Comment johngaltfla
johngaltfla's picture

This is truly mind boggling. Why is everything pointing to some sort of "event" in the January to March 2010 time frame? You have 1-3-6 month yields persistenly in real negative yield territory for over 60 days now when adjusted for their inflation numbers. As mentioned above the Taylor Rule suggest a -5% real yield. Something or someone is going to hock up a hairball in Q4 or just plain die when this year is over.

 

Ah well, gotta get those bonuses courtesy of the taxpayers first then they can barf the system again.

Tue, 12/08/2009 - 19:08 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/08/2009 - 23:05 | Link to Comment Reductio ad Absurdum
Wed, 12/09/2009 - 00:58 | Link to Comment Molon Labe
Molon Labe's picture

Retail bankruptcies, perhaps, after the holiday shopping season fails?  Then what will that do to CRE?  Just a thought.

Tue, 12/08/2009 - 17:44 | Link to Comment ex ante
ex ante's picture

Mr Blutarsky

Tue, 12/08/2009 - 17:56 | Link to Comment Jim ODonnell
Jim ODonnell's picture

But of course, thanks ex ante. Here is Ben Bernanke and what he is doing to the world's monetary system:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9JYq-mXprw

Tue, 12/08/2009 - 17:52 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/08/2009 - 17:53 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/08/2009 - 18:05 | Link to Comment Unscarred
Unscarred's picture

The last time that the 1-month T-Bill auction came in at 0.000% (12/23/08), other market data included:

TED Spread @ 1.4263
VIX @ 45.02
AA Spread @ 3.445
BBB Spread @ 7.575
Euro/$ @ 1.3947

At the close yesterday (sorry, don't have quick access to #'s for today), those same measures were:

TED Spread @ 0.2066
VIX @ 22.10
AA Spread @ 0.168
BBB Spread @ 1.878
Euro/$ @ 1.4813

Given all of that, are the markets overpricing liquidity, underpricing risk, or am I foolish to even believe that market forces are still driving prices?

Tue, 12/08/2009 - 18:41 | Link to Comment Commander Cody
Commander Cody's picture

There's that foolish word again, but I'm not calling you that.  Just what is a market force these days?

Tue, 12/08/2009 - 18:07 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/08/2009 - 18:14 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/08/2009 - 19:49 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/08/2009 - 21:25 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Thu, 12/10/2009 - 21:04 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/08/2009 - 21:03 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/08/2009 - 22:17 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/08/2009 - 22:39 | Link to Comment Kayman
Kayman's picture

 

  1. Of course, all the HFT insiders  have made money this year, supported by interest-free money from the American taxpayer.
  2. We are in a dynamic balance between inflation (commodities, stocks, oil) against deflation as more and more worthless loans supported by falling collateral values are kept under the carpet for as long as possible. Real estate is just the beginning of a long term correction.  Proper accounting ? Mark-to-market ? Why this is only allowed in a rising market.  We are now in the pretend market phase.
  3. Can we have inflation and deflation at the same time? This is akin to sucking and blowing at the same time.  I am told, but cannot personally confirm, it is a life changing experience.
  4. Finally, 30 day money at zero percent?  The purchasers must suck up to the Fed and Treasury or they cannot call upon them for future favors. Of course, this is a small price to pay for the skim from unhinged and unlimited risk taking.

 

Wed, 12/09/2009 - 03:03 | Link to Comment dogbreath
dogbreath's picture

deflation means you will have less cash.  inflation means everything you need to buy will cost much more.  both will happen.

Wed, 12/09/2009 - 10:05 | Link to Comment TumblingDice
TumblingDice's picture

It's the patriotic thing to do.

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