Investors are jumping into bonds like they're a hot IPO, with the U.S. yield curve at its flattest level since 2007. The 30-year Treasury rate tumbled as much as 14 basis points on Monday to close in on its record-low of 2.0882% from July 2016, while the 10-year note fell 10 bps to 1.65%, and at one point was just 5 bps more than two-year notes. The pace of the move means 1.318% - the 10-year's all-time low set three years ago - is at risk of being broken, unless the Fed maintains a hawkish stance or if Beijing unveils a stimulus package to counter trade war fallout. (SA)

The U.S. budget gap widened further in July as federal spending outpaced revenue collection, bringing the deficit to $867B in the first ten months of the fiscal year, a 27% increase from the same period a year earlier. For the month, the biggest expenditure - Social Security - was $88B followed by Medicare and National Defense, each at $56B. Customs duties, which include tariffs from imports, jumped by 75% to $56.9B YTD.  (FT)

U.S. consumer prices rose broadly in July, but the increase in inflation will likely do little to change expectations that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates again next month amid worsening trade tensions.  The Labor Department said this morning its consumer price index increased 0.3% last month, lifted by gains in the cost of energy products and a range of other goods. The CPI had edged up 0.1% for two straight months. In the 12 months through July inflation is up 1.8%.  (CNBC)

With Northwest Quadrant Wealth Management, a Registered Investment Advisor I am Josh Fenili.