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Despite near-term volatility, the risk of German 10-year yields sustaining a move above 3% is considered low. This makes the 3% level an attractive entry point for long-term investors, supported by strong investor demand and the view that a significant fiscal risk premium is not a major concern for Germany.
Despite a recent sell-off, German Bunds are seen as attractively valued compared to US Treasuries. The US-Germany spread is considered too tight, with US yields approximately 7 basis points too expensive versus their Euro counterparts, presenting a cross-market opportunity for fixed income investors to favor German debt.
Despite a sizable fiscal boost, Germany is not expected to experience rising term premium. The country's debt-to-GDP ratio remains low, and strong demand from the private sector and foreign investors is forecast to easily absorb the increased bond supply, containing upward pressure on yields.
Contrary to fears of a spike, a major rise in 10-year Treasury yields is unlikely. The current wide gap between long-term yields and the Fed's lower policy rate—a multi-year anomaly—makes these bonds increasingly attractive to buyers. This dynamic creates a natural ceiling on how high long-term rates can go.
Valuation models show U.S. Treasury yields are too low compared to global peers, particularly German Bunds. The Bund-Treasury spread is seen as 8-10 basis points too low, suggesting U.S. rates could underperform and rise more than their international counterparts, marking a shift to a domestic-driven story.
A key macro theme is the decoupling of US and German interest rate paths. J.P. Morgan expects US Treasury yields to rise toward 4.5% due to a hawkish Fed and strong labor markets. Conversely, weak eurozone growth and lower fiscal pressure suggest German yields have scope to fall, creating a clear medium-term relative value opportunity.
Global diversification away from the US dollar, accelerated by geopolitical tensions, is creating structural demand for Eurozone Government Bonds (EGBs). This acts as a buffer, making Euro area term premia less reactive to global rate sell-offs in markets like the US and Japan, a trend expected to continue.
While gross Euro area sovereign bond issuance is set for a new record in 2026, this is primarily driven by Germany. Net issuance for the region will remain similar to 2025 levels, as deficits in other countries are flat or declining, mitigating overall supply pressure.
Despite Germany's fiscal expansion driving record Euro area gross issuance, the resulting €60 billion increase in German bonds is considered insignificant for a triple-A issuer. Analysts argue this amount is easily digestible and does not warrant concerns about rising term premium, especially when compared to the scale of U.S. Treasury issuance.
Germany's finance agency signaled it would adjust debt issuance in response to a steepening yield curve. This sensitivity acts as a structural anchor on intermediate-term yields, creating a potential outperformance opportunity for German bonds versus US and UK debt, which face greater fiscal pressures.
A strategic preference is given to overweighting German versus U.S. intermediate-term bonds. This conviction is built on three pillars: a bullish outlook on European duration, attractive relative valuations after adjusting for money market pricing, and a newly adopted bearish view on U.S. duration from the firm's American strategists.