The bond market is flashing a signal not seen since before the 2008 crisis

Site SearchClearSEARCHAdvanced Search ➔Search ResultsSymbolsNo results foundAll NewsArticlesVideoPodcasts0 ResultsNo Results FoundAuthorsNo results foundSectionsNo results foundColumnsNo results found Market ExtraThe bond market is flashing a signal not seen since before the 2008 crisisThe 2-year Treasury yield spikes above the fed-funds rate target and produces a deeper, worrisome trading pattern for investorsLast Updated: March 19, 2026 at 4:11 p.m. ETFirst Published: March 19, 2026 at 3:23 p.m. ETShareResizeListen(6 min)The 2-year yield rose above the fed-funds rate target, while the Treasury curve continued to flatten on Thursday. Photo: MarketWatch/Getty Images, iStockphotoTroubling developments unfolded in the U.S. bond market on Thursday that had some investors drawing comparisons with the run-up to the 2008 financial crisis.The current problems start with rising oil prices as a result of the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, which is raising the risk of stagflation and the prospect of a 2026 interest-rate hike by the Federal Reserve. Brent crude BRN00, the global oil benchmark, briefly blew past $119 a barrel on Thursday as attacks escalated on oil-and-gas infrastructure in the Persian Gulf.

West Texas Intermediate crude-oil futures CLJ26 briefly crossed $100 a barrel. About the Author Vivien Lou ChenVivien Lou Chen is a Markets Reporter for MarketWatch. You can follow her on Twitter @vivienlouchen.Show Conversation (0)Back To TopA Dow Jones CompanyCopyright © 2026 MarketWatch, Inc. All rights reserved.Terms of UsePrivacy NoticeCookie NoticeArchive MarketwatchCustomer CenterContact UsNewslettersNewsroom RosterVirtual Stock ExchangeMarketWatch GuidesCopyright PolicyManage NotificationsCancel My SubscriptionCompanyDow JonesCode of ConductCorrectionsReprints & LicensingDigital Self ServiceYour Ad ChoicesCorporate SubscriptionsAccessibilityDow Jones NetworkThe Wall Street JournalBarron'sInvestor's Business DailyFinancial News Londonrealtor.comMansion GlobalDow Jones Smart MoneyIntraday Data provided by FACTSET and subject to terms of use. Historical and current end-of-day data provided by FACTSET. All quotes are in local exchange time. Real-time last sale data for U.S. stock quotes reflect trades reported through Nasdaq only. Intraday data delayed at least 15 minutes or per exchange requirements.