Jonathan Wallen on How Hedge Funds Seized the Treasury Market

Hedge funds have absorbed much of the recent surge in Treasury issuance and now own a larger share of the market than domestic private banks. Unlike other market actors that are less price sensitive and hold the securities to maturity, hedge funds engage in highly leveraged trades over short time horizons that, in turn, exacerbate episodes of bond market volatility. With Fed officials hoping to reduce their footprint in the Treasury market, policymakers could have a limited toolkit to mitigate any market dislocations during the next crisis. In this episode, we talk with Jonathan Wallen, Assistant Professor of Finance at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, about how hedge funds’ rising share of the Treasury market increases market fragility. Simply Put: Expert perspectives on the trends influencing fixed income, banking, and the macro landscape, hosted by FHN Financial’s Macro Strategist, Will Compernolle. Tune in to better understand what’s moving the markets and what to keep an eye on in the weeks and months ahead. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.