Why Treasury’s $6 billion bond buyback didn’t lower mortgage rates

The Treasury Department's $6 billion bond buyback did not lead to lower mortgage rates as hoped. Instead, yields continued to rise, reaching a three-year high for the 10-year note. Homebuyers and refinancers expected relief on mortgage rates but saw rates climb near 7%. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent dismissed concerns that the buyback program had failed, attributing the lack of mortgage rate reduction to the small number of offers received compared to the usual $20 billion.

The bond market and mortgage rates are linked; by repurchasing government debt, the Treasury aimed to ease rising bond yields and potentially lower mortgage rates. However, the buyback's impact was limited due to lower-than-expected demand, resulting in higher rates. Analysts believe the rise in mortgage rates is due to inflation and the Federal Reserve's interest rate hikes, not the bond market's reaction to the Treasury's buyback.