Some Asset Managers Moving From Treasuries To Corporate Bonds

Following the recent comments of Yale's endowment investment chief, David Swensen (see previous post), over half of a group of recently surveyed asset managers believe that high-quality corporate credit is currently trading at cheap levels and will likely rally in 2009 (see Financial Times article). Many feel that the rush to the safety of Treasuries has caused all grades of corporates, even high-grade bonds, to be oversold. On the other hand, many of the same analysts, including Pimco's Mohamed El-Erian, feel that US Treasuries will face considerable pressure after their recent fear-driven price appreciation, which in some cases drove yields to near zero levels for some shorter duration issues. Given the current desire by the incoming Congress and the President-elect to fund numerous public sector and infrastructure projects, the government will be forced to increase its issuance of debt, putting further pressure on Treasury prices.