AUGUST 18, 2009
Treasurys Attract Foreigners
China, Japan Buy Longer-Term Issues at Record Pace
China and Japan, the world's largest creditors to the U.S., scooped up longer-term Treasury notes and bonds in June at a record pace.
While China sold more than $50 billion in short-term Treasury bills in June, it bought $26.6 billion in notes and bonds, its biggest monthly buying on record. Japan snapped up $32.75 billion in longer-dated U.S. debt, also a historic high.
The strong inflows of foreign capital helped the U.S. sell a record amount of debt without a hitch. Though demand from U.S. households for Treasurys has risen in tandem with the rise in the savings rate, foreigners, ...