Treasuries Rally on Growth Concern

(Bloomberg) -- Stocks dropped and Treasuries rose, sending the two-year yield to a record low, amid speculation the Federal Reserve’s stimulus measures mean the recovery is more threatened than was feared. The yen advanced to a 15-year high against the dollar.

The Fed yesterday said it would maintain stimulus measures to support a weaker-than-anticipated recovery. China’s industrial output rose the least in 11 months, retail sales growth eased and new loans climbed less than estimated, adding to signs that the world’s third-biggest economy is slowing. Growth in oil demand will decline in 2011, the International Energy Agency in Paris said, citing “significant” risks that the global recovery will falter.

“We’re in a world-wide soft patch and investors wonder why the Fed didn’t do more,” said James Swanson, chief investment strategist at Boston-based MFS Investment Management, which oversees about $197 billion. “People are dumping stocks because they’re afraid earnings will decelerate and the economy is losing steam.”