Fed to Print [Only] $97 Billion Over Next 30 Days

After last month's record printing performance of $112 billion, the NY Fed will scale down and print only $97 billion over the next 30 days. In actuality, total purchases pursuant to QE2 will remain the same at $80 billion; however, the purchases needed to compensate for maturing assets (QE Lite) are dropping from $32 billion to $17 billion--in part, because of fewer Agency (Fannie/Freddie) securities maturing, but primarily because of lower MBS principal payments.

Mortgage rates have been climbing over the last few months, reaching the highest level since April 2010 only today. Rising mortgage rates mean fewer refinances, which require payouts to the MBS holders (including the Fed) of the full value of the repaid mortgages. Inasmuch as rising long term interest rates are testament to the resounding success of the Fed's purchase program (just ask Brian Sack), thanks to Fed profligacy, it is slightly less profligate this month.

Full schedule:

Tentative Outright Treasury Operation Schedule

Across all operations in the schedule listed below, the Desk plans to purchase approximately $97 billion. This represents $80 billion in purchases of the announced $600 billion purchase program and $17 billion in purchases associated with principal payments from agency debt and agency MBS expected to be received between mid-February and mid-March.

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	OPERATION DATE1	SETTLEMENT DATE	OPERATION TYPE2	MATURITY RANGE	EXPECTED PURCHASE SIZE
	February 11, 2011	February 14, 2011	Outright Treasury Coupon Purchase	08/15/2016 – 01/31/2018	$6 – $8 billion
	February 14, 2011	February 15, 2011	Outright TIPS Purchase	04/15/2013 – 02/15/2040	$1 – $2 billion
	February 15, 2011	February 16, 2011	Outright Treasury Coupon Purchase	02/28/2015 – 08/15/2016	$5 – $7 billion
	February 16, 2011	February 17, 2011	Outright Treasury Coupon Purchase	05/15/2021 – 11/15/2027	$1.5 – $2.5 billion
	February 17, 2011	February 18, 2011	Outright Treasury Coupon Purchase	05/15/2018 – 02/15/2021	$6 – $8 billion
	February 18, 2011	February 22, 2011	Outright Treasury Coupon Purchase	08/31/2013 – 02/15/2015	$5 – $7 billion
	February 22, 2011	February 23, 2011	Outright Treasury Coupon Purchase	08/31/2016 – 02/15/2018	$6 – $8 billion
	February 23, 2011	February 24, 2011	Outright Treasury Coupon Purchase	08/15/2028 – 02/15/2041	$1.5 – $2.5 billion
	February 24, 2011	February 25, 2011	Outright Treasury Coupon Purchase	08/31/2012 – 08/15/2013	$4 – $6 billion
	February 25, 2011	February 28, 2011	Outright Treasury Coupon Purchase	05/15/2018 – 02/15/2021	$6 – $8 billion
	February 28, 2011	March 1, 2011	Outright Treasury Coupon Purchase	08/31/2013 – 02/15/2015	$5 – $7 billion
	March 1, 2011	March 2, 2011	Outright Treasury Coupon Purchase	08/15/2028 – 02/15/2041	$1.5 – $2.5 billion
	March 2, 2011	March 3, 2011	Outright Treasury Coupon Purchase	03/31/2015 – 08/31/2016	$5 – $7 billion
	March 3, 2011	March 4, 2011	Outright Treasury Coupon Purchase	05/15/2018 – 02/15/2021	$6 – $8 billion
	March 4, 2011	March 7, 2011	Outright TIPS Purchase	04/15/2013 – 02/15/2041	$1 – $2 billion
	March 7, 2011	March 8, 2011	Outright Treasury Coupon Purchase	09/15/2013 – 02/28/2015	$5 – $7 billion
	March 8, 2011	March 9, 2011	Outright Treasury Coupon Purchase	09/30/2016 – 02/28/2018	$6 – $8 billion
	March 9, 2011	March 10, 2011	Outright Treasury Coupon Purchase	03/31/2015 – 08/31/2016	$5 – $7 billion

The next release of the approximate purchase amount and tentative outright Treasury operation schedule will be at 2 p.m. on March 10, 2011. At that time, the Desk will also publish information on prices paid for securities included in the operations listed above.

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¹Operations are tentatively scheduled to begin around 10:15 AM and close at 11:00 AM unless noted otherwise.
²Nominal coupon operations are specified as “Outright Treasury Coupon Purchase” and TIPS operations are specified as “Outright TIPS Purchase”