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In this regular podcast series, MUFG subject matter experts within our business discuss the forces, indications, and policies that impact the U.S. economy and financial markets, and provide updates to their economic outlooks and forecasts for the weeks, months, and years ahead.

JPY Cross asset review for the month of March plus triggers for the month of April

In today’s episode, MUFG Chief Japan Strategist Takahiro Sekido reviews JPY asset pricing and flows in March, looks ahead to April JPY triggers, and discusses the key points of the March Tankan survey. He also shares his views on Dollar/Yen, Yen rate, and Yen basis.

If you can’t view the above media player, this podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Macro scenarios update and curve reviews post Fed’s first hike

In today’s episode, MUFG Head of U.S. Macro Strategy George Goncalves reviews his recently published macro thematic report on our latest views for the U.S. outlook in the next 18 months as well as a review of markets in and out of the first hike in this cycle. George feels that the rates market is operating to a “back to the future” tightening cycle that has fast-forwarded all the Fed hikes into and out of the Fed’s first move. This has led to a cascading of curve flattening (with a number of curve spreads going inverted in the process) as the market is skeptical the Fed will get far.

If you can’t view the above media player, this podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

How many unlimited fixed-rate JGB buying operations will it take for the BoJ to keep JGB yields ”around zero percent”?

In today's episode, MUFG Chief Japan Strategist Takahiro Sekido dissects the BoJ's fixed rate JGB buying operations and JPY cross-asset flows in February. He also shares his views on the Dollar/Yen, Yen rates, and Yen basis.

If you can’t view the above media player, this podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

A defining moment for the U.S. bond market

In today’s episode, MUFG Head of U.S. Macro Strategy George Goncalves summarizes the current rates and curve dynamics post the first Fed hike of this cycle. George is pretty emphatic that the U.S. bond market needs to hold the line—which is short for saying that we are in the intersection of some key technical metrics and market structure factors—and that this perhaps is the most important time in the bond market’s history to date.

If you can’t view the above media player, this podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

TicBop, the BoJ & USDJPY

In today’s episode, MUFG Chief Japan Strategist Takahiro Sekido deliberates the attributes of U.S. bond flows among Japanese and Asian investors more broadly, as well as the BoJ’s March meeting and policy outlook. He also shares his views on the Dollar/Yen, Yen rate, and Yen basis.

If you can’t view the above media player, this podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

March FOMC Preview: Lift-off in a period of uncertainty

In today’s episode, MUFG Head of U.S. Macro Strategy George Goncalves discusses the intra-meeting price action between the last FOMC through today and spells out what to watch for in the Fed’s updates for the economic outlook and rate path ahead (i.e. the dot plot). George expects the Fed to try to thread the needle as a lot of hikes are already priced-in.

If you can’t view the above media player, this podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

March BoJ Preview: The Ukraine crisis’ impact on Japan’s bank sector and global inflationary pressures

In today’s episode, MUFG Chief Japan Strategist Takahiro Sekido previews the Bank of Japan’s March Monetary Policy Board meeting. He also discusses the impact of the war in Ukraine on Japan’s bank sector and domestic inflationary pressures as shown in corporate prices as well as shares his views on Dollar/Yen, Yen rate, and Yen basis.

If you can’t view the above media player, this podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

What does royalty have to do with MBS prepayment?

In this episode MUFG Head of Prepayment Modeling and Strategy Glenn Schultz discusses the transition of the mortgage prepayment landscape to one dominated by turnover and burnout rather than refinancing. He discusses why he believes that turnover will become the dominant theme in 2022. He takes a balanced look at the specified pool sector, identifying the ‘Kings of extension protection” and “Princes of call protection.” Finally, he discusses his views on the recent widening trend in the current coupon basis.

If you can’t view the above media player, this podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

What do fiscal fund and securities flows during the month of February mean for investors looking to navigate Japanese markets in March?

In today’s episode, MUFG Chief Japan Strategist Takahiro Sekido shares his outlook for JPY cross assets in March and also looks back at fiscal and BoJ monetary operations, as well as securities investing flows in February. He also shares his views on Dollar/Yen, Yen rate, and Yen basis.

If you can’t view the above media player, this podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Bond market reactions to geopolitical risks

In today’s episode, MUFG Head of U.S. Macro Strategy George Goncalves discusses the recently produced report on geopolitical analysis and historical experience of markets and the Fed during prior events. George emphasizes that it’s early days to draw any strong conclusions, but he is comfortable with his views that it all comes down to how financial conditions evolve ahead.

If you can’t view the above media player, this podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Learn more

For more information,
contact us.

John Cooke
Head of Rates Sales, Americas
New York, NY
1-212-405-7353
John.Cooke@mufgsecurities.com

George Goncalves
Head of U.S. Macro Strategy
New York, NY
1-212-405-6687
George.Goncalves@mufgsecurities.com

Takahiro Sekido
Chief Japan Strategist
Tokyo, Japan
1-81-3-6214-4150
Takahiro_Sekido@mufg.jp

Glenn Schultz
Head of Agency Mortgage Prepayment Modeling and Strategy
Chicago, IL
1-212-405-6521
Glenn.Schultz@mufgsecurities.com

The podcast content above is being provided for educational and informational purposes only. The information and comments are not the views or opinions of MUFG Union Bank, its subsidiaries or affiliates. Please consult your attorney, accountant or tax or financial advisor with regard to your particular situation.