The 30-year Treasury yield just broke to its highest level in almost 20 years

Yahoo Finance ^ | May 15th, 2026 | Grace O'Donnell · Editor, Special Projects

[Mariner]

Surging Treasury yields sent the stock market a warning on Friday amid a sell-off in global bonds.

The 30-year Treasury yield (^TYX) rose 10 basis points to reach 5.12%, its highest level since June 2007. The 10-year benchmark yield (^TNX), meanwhile, climbed 11 basis points to 4.57%, its highest level since May 2025. Bond yields and prices move in opposite directions, meaning that when yields rise, prices fall.

Both bonds broke above the key psychological levels of 5% and 4.5%, respectively. As Yahoo Finance’s Jared Blikre has written before, the 5% zone for the so-called long bond represents a danger zone that has tightened financial conditions in the past.

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TOPICS: Business/Economy; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 30yeartreasury; 30yrtreasury; treasury

[Mariner]

The bond market is bigger that the US stock markets.

When stocks go back to their historic valuations, and they will, the bond market will be twice as big.

The bond market sets the tone, and the foundation of all other investment.

[PGR88]

Loading money to Fed.gov for 30 years when it is de facto controlled by socialists, and running permanent and escalating $2 trillion deficits is an act of extreme stupidity.

In the absence of Treasury manipulation or Federal Reserve suppression, how much should a reasonable person demand to loan money to Fed.gov for such a long period? 12%? 15%? 20%?

[Theoria]

You get what you vote for. R’s and D’s march down and vote for the money printer every election.

[Alberta's Child]

Information like this illustrates why we should stop the idiocy or pretending that the Federal Reserve has any flexibility in its interest rate policy.

"Interest rates are too high!" is mental retardation on steroids when the U.S. government bond market is sending off these signals.

[Mariner]

Berkshire Hathaway has $390 billion invested in short term treasuries now.

I up to about 2/3 of my money in a short term treasury mutual fund.

Financial Institutions and governments are the holders for 30 year bonds. It’s the only game in town for their enormous sums.

[fruser1]

It’s a sign of a risk in investing in a country where the congress prints money with abandon.

[PGR88]

operative words: “short term treasuries”

[EnderWiggin1970]

The government deficit has now grown to such proportions that it is sucking money out of other markets just to finance it. That scarcity of dollars means intensified competition among borrowers as lenders charge higher rates to access remaining funds, driving interest rates ever higher. We are getting into 'snowball effect' territory now with the government debt. Even with wildly severe cuts (such as slashing military spending 50%) the debt will still grow faster than the economy, meaning things will get worse faster and faster. That's what is different from previous periods of worrying about the debt.

I know people pooh-pooh the doomsayers, but the thing about doomsayers is that they will be wrong every day - until the day they are proved right. That day is now getting closer.

[Sequoyah101]

One day reality kicks in. We just took profit and reallocated.

It is inevitable isn’t it? When you borrow this much money it gets harder to get people t loan more without raising the offer. Each time Trump has demanded the FED to reduce rates I laugh at the foolishness of it.

What a mess.

[volare737]

Agreed. It is absolutely ridiculous to think that interest rates should be lower.

Let's see here, the government says inflation is 3.8% (likely understated) and headed higher. The Fed's benchmark interest rate is 3.5-3.75%.

Who is their right mind thinks interest rates should be less than the inflation rate? Who is their right mind would lend money at a rate less than inflation? WOW, not to mention the Fed hasn't hit their inflation goal in over 5 years now!

It is obvious to an even casual observer that inflation and interest rates are BOTH headed higher.

[DesertRhino]

I half expect to hear him brag that bond rates are going up....

[Starboard]

Excellent question.

And the higher rates go the more it costs for the government to service the debt.

[Starboard]

“When stocks go back to their historic valuations...”

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DCF valuation models use the risk free rate. When those rates go up, stock valuations decline. Just saying.

[volare737]

The 10 year just broke it's resistance level of 4.5%. It is now 4.6%, likely headed higher (with mortgage rates following closely).

I hope the President doesn't mention lower interest rates anymore (even with Warsh as the new Chairman)--it would be absurd.

[Starboard]

“You get what you vote for. R’s and D’s march down and vote for the money printer every election.”

************

Essentially they use our tax dollars to buy our votes.

[central_va]

How do Republicans use tax dollars to buy votes ? Examples?

[Repealthe17thAmendment]

The government deficit has now grown to such proportions that it is sucking money out of other markets just to finance it.

This is the canary in the coal mine.

[Starboard]

How about massive agricultural subsidies for starters?

[PGR88]

How do Republicans use tax dollars to buy votes ? Examples?

How about social security? Medicare / medicaid? the entire welfare state?

show me any republican (besides possibly a few outliers like Rand Paul) willing to take these bloated progressive institutions on - head on. Hell - a GOP President, Congress and Senate can't even remove or make major changes to Obamacare.

Their fear makes it even MORE pathetic. Democrats buy votes for socialism and permanent bloated welfare institutions, and GOP only operates out of FEAR they my not get votes if they say NO.

[central_va]

The Republicans are not using taxpayer dollars to buy votes. They do use corporate welfare to get contributions .SS is not welfare.