China signals leverage as markets downplay Treasury and dollar risks
Watch on YouTube ↗  |  February 10, 2026 at 15:46 UTC  |  5:52  |  CNBC
Speakers
Deirdre McNeil — Senior Policy Analyst, Longview Global
Marc Chandler — Chief Market Strategist, Bannockburn Capital Markets

Summary

  • Chinese regulators have advised banks to limit exposure to US Treasuries, a move experts call "leverage signaling" ahead of upcoming Trump-Xi meetings.
  • While the US bond market largely ignored this news (yields remained stable), the currency market reacted strongly with a broad sell-off of the US Dollar.
  • Strategists warn of a structural shift where global investors and US corporations are increasingly diversifying away from the Dollar due to valuation concerns and eroding trust.
Trade Ideas
Ticker Direction Speaker Thesis Time
SHORT Marc Chandler
Chief Market Strategist, Bannockburn Capital Markets
The speaker observes that while the bond market ignored China's warnings, the FX market did not. The Dollar was hit across the board, even against the Yen which was expected to weaken following Japanese election results. There are two forces at play: a cyclical pullback because the Dollar is overvalued, and a structural shift where investors are "selling the dollar as a hedge" due to lost trust in US leadership and supply chain control. Alphabet recently issued a 100-year bond in a foreign currency, signaling that even major US corporations are diversifying financing away from the Dollar. The move might be purely cyclical rather than the beginning of a total collapse of the Dollar's reserve status. 1:29
WATCH Deirdre McNeil
Senior Policy Analyst, Longview Global
Beijing has advised financial institutions to limit purchases of US government bonds. This is "leverage signaling." Just as China uses rare earths or pharmaceutical precursors as leverage in trade negotiations, they are now signaling that financial dependence cuts both ways. They are demonstrating the ability to squeeze US financing ahead of diplomatic meetings. This follows a pattern of China using economic choke points (like critical minerals) to exert political pressure. While current guidance is moderate, this highlights long-term sanctions risk, particularly if a conflict over Taiwan escalates.