Entire U.S. Yield Curve (5-Yr, 10-yr, 30 yr) Inside 1% Sounds Alarm for Global Bond Markets

The entire yield curve for U.S. bonds fell below 1% for the first time in history after an all-out price war between the world’s biggest oil exporters triggered an unprecedented global bond rally.
U.S. Treasury yields plunged, with the rate on 30-year bonds diving as much as 59 basis points, as rising expectations the Federal Reserve will cut policy rates to 0% in the coming months drove investors to reach to longer maturities for yield. U.K. government bond yields tumbled below zero for the first time, Germany’s two-year bonds were close to a record, and rates in Australia and New Zealand fell to new lows.
The spread of the coronavirus and its fallout on supply chains and consumer spending have seen a dramatic repricing of global interest-rate expectations in the past month. The jolt lower in oil from the price war will sap inflation, increasing pressure on the Fed to take rates to the lowest since the global financial crisis.
Read more: Yahoo News.

Ranson Financial2020-03-09T07:13:45-05:00March 9, 2020|News|

COVID-19 sends muni and UST yields to uncharted territory on Friday

As fear and undertainty over COVID-19 increase by the minute, it has sent yields for both municipals and Treasuries never before seen low levels — begging the question if we could see zero or negative yields here in the States.
This past week was a firestorm of complex events, with the end result being utter shock of how low we have come in terms of yields so quickly.
“I haven’t seen anything like what we have seen this week, or even today,” said Jim Colby, senior municipal strategist and portfolio manager at VanEck on Friday morning. “It is absolutely possible we can get to zero, or dare I say even negative yields here — it is just hard to tell when exactly.”
If Friday’s pace continues, that might not take long. The 10-year Treasury on Friday opened at 0.920% and it quickly dropped down to an all-time low of 0.660% before 11 a.m. ET.
(Read more: The Bond Buyer)

Ranson Financial2020-03-09T06:57:23-05:00March 8, 2020|News|

NE Wichita native plans to bring grocery store to area

Right now, an effort is underway to bring a grocery store to one of Wichita’s food deserts.
One part of Northeast Kansas is struggling with heart disease, obesity, and related diseases.
This is happening in part because of a lack of access to healthy foods.
“I grew up on the northeast side of town and I actually lived in food deserts for most of my life,” says Ashley Faust, an entrepreneur planning to open a grocery store in the area. “I know what it feels like to drive for miles to get to a grocery store.”
(Read more: KAKE – News)

Ranson Financial2020-03-09T06:59:38-05:00March 8, 2020|News|

Proposed state law would prevent cities, counties, school districts from suing big corporations

Business groups and Kansas’ Republican attorney general are pushing for a state law that could prevent cities, counties and local school districts from suing big corporations such as opioid and vaping products manufacturers.
The proposal would give Attorney General Derek Schmidt’s office oversight of local officials’ decisions to hire outside attorneys, and it’s modeled after a law Texas enacted last year.
Supporters say they’re trying to make it easier to reach broad, nationwide settlements of legal issues, and prevent what arm of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce calls a “shakedown.” Critics say the measure would allow big corporations to escape accountability for their misconduct.
(Read more: KFDI 101.3)

Ranson Financial2020-03-09T06:59:52-05:00March 8, 2020|News|

Prairie Village historian Mary McMurray to serve as new director of Johnson County Museum

The Johnson County Park and Recreation District has hired a new director to lead the Johnson County Museum.
Mary McMurray, a historian specializing in 20th century U.S. history, will start in her new role on April 6. She said she “couldn’t be more excited” to join the museum staff.
“I’m very lucky to have been a member of this community and already been a member of this museum, knowing how important this is to our community,” McMurray said. “The people that I know that work here, I was already looking up to them in the professional world, and so it’s really nice to get to join this team at this time where they are doing this incredible work with their strategic plan, and a great time in the museum community in general, where people are craving storytelling opportunities for engaging with one another and our past, and helping to forge a better future by looking to the past.”
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)

Ranson Financial2020-03-09T07:00:17-05:00March 8, 2020|News|

Federal loans and grants available to bring high-speed broadband to rural areas

The Kansas State Department of Commerce announces today that applications are being accepted for the second round of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s ReConnect Program. ReConnect is a USDA program that furnishes loans and grants to fund the costs of construction, improvement or acquisition of facilities and equipment needed to provide broadband service in eligible rural areas.
As with the first funding round, USDA scoring includes points for states which have a broadband plan, and commit to expediting certain processes. Commerce is working with the USDA to ensure Kansas applicants are as competitive as possible.
Applications will be accepted until 6:00PM EST on March 16, 2020. Applications are made through the USDA, but Kansas applicants must obtain a state certification letter from the Kansas Department of Commerce to submit with their USDA application. The state certification letter can be obtained at www.kansascommerce.gov/sign-up/.
(Read more: Western Kansas News)

Ranson Financial2020-03-09T07:00:41-05:00March 8, 2020|News|

Topeka seeks to replace aging pipes without soaking taxpayers

Brian and Sarah Kassin’s home in west-central Topeka was overwhelmed in 2014 when an 86-year-old city water main broke about 13 feet away, releasing 4 million gallons of water.
That torrent pushed the couple’s house at 3100 S.W. Dorr off its foundation, effectively destroying it, then-Shawnee County District Judge Evelyn Wilson concluded.
Wilson in January 2018 dismissed a lawsuit the Kassins had filed against Topeka city’s government, saying they failed to prove the city acted negligently.
Still, the case highlights the potential threat to homes near deteriorating water lines and the challenges city officials face as they seek to be fiscally responsible yet effectively address what they call a “crisis” regarding the city’s aging water main system.
(Read more: Political – The Topeka Capital-Journal)

Ranson Financial2020-03-09T07:01:17-05:00March 8, 2020|News|

Bike Share program is back

The City of Emporia free community bike share is back.
After a winter break, 22 bikes have been deployed to six locations across the city: Logan Avenue Elementary School, Emporia High School, Emporia Recreation Center, Do-B’s, near the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office and CrossWinds Counseling & Wellness.
The bikes were deployed and activated Friday morning and are ready for use.
(Read more: Emporia Gazette)

Ranson Financial2020-03-09T07:02:17-05:00March 8, 2020|News|

Pulling in the Same Direction: Garden City and Finney County (VIDEO)

The past decade in Garden City and Finney County has been one of exciting change. During Thursday night’s annual banquet, the Chamber wanted to take a moment to reflect on the amazing growth within the community and the steps that were taken by community leaders who have helped. …. a short documentary video highlights this vibrant and progressive community.

Ranson Financial2020-03-08T16:25:44-05:00March 7, 2020|News|

10-year Treasury yield briefly hits all-time low under 0.7% as flight to bonds continues

The global flight to the safety government debt continued on Friday as investors piled into U.S. Treasurys and sent the yield on the 10-year note to record lows.
The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note sank to 0.695% around 4:45 a.m. ET, breaking below 0.7% for the first time ever, according to Tradeweb data. As of the latest reading, however, the 10-year yield had moved off those lows to 0.72%.
…
The plunge in yields came amid an exodus from stocks as disruptions to businesses around the world on the back of the coronavirus outbreak heighten fears of a global slowdown.
“It’s a brave new world of 0-handles and we’ve now taken to referencing 10-year yields in basis point terms. 1.0%, thanks for the memories,” wrote Ian Lyngen, head of rates strategy at BMO Capital Markets.
Read more: CNBC.

Ranson Financial2020-03-06T07:40:55-06:00March 6, 2020|News|