China trims US Treasury holdings amid Iran war, Fed uncertainty

China cut its holdings of US Treasuries to a nearly 18-year low in June, as Beijing continued to diversify its foreign exchange reserves amid heightened geopolitical tensions and growing uncertainty over the policy outlook in the United States.

Holdings fell to US$633.4 billion in June from US$659.3 billion in May, data released by the Treasury Department of the United States showed on Monday. The amount in June marked the lowest level since September 2008, when holdings fell to US$618.2 billion according to Chinese financial data provider Wind.

Meanwhile, overall foreign holdings of US Treasuries dropped to US$9.299 trillion in June from US$9.371 trillion in May.

US-Iran hostilities reignited in June before a tentative ceasefire eased fears of a wider regional conflict, with investors closely watching the risk of renewed fighting, disruptions to oil supplies and their implications for global growth and inflation.

That month also marked Kevin Warsh’s debut policy meeting as the chairman of the US Federal Reserve. The notably brief post-meeting statement, coupled with the new Fed chairman’s decision not to publish a rate forecast – in line with his criticism of forward guidance – left investors with fewer clues about future rate moves.

US Treasury yields have climbed to multi-year highs in recent months, particularly at the long end of the curve, with 30-year and 10-year yields under pressure amid concerns over Washington’s fiscal sustainability.