CONVEX
Scenario × Asset Analysis

What Happens to Adjusted NFCI When 10-Year Real Yields Turn Positive?

What happens when 10-year real yields turn positive after a prolonged negative period? Impact on gold, tech stocks, and risk assets.

Adjusted NFCI
-0.43
as of Apr 3, 2026
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Trigger: 10Y Real Yield (TIPS)
1.92%
Condition: rises above 0%
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How Adjusted NFCI Responds

When 10-Year Real Yields Turn Positive, Adjusted NFCI typically responds to the changing macro environment. NFCI adjusted for prevailing economic conditions, isolates financial stress from the cycle. This scenario is particularly relevant for credit & financial stress because changes in 10Y Real Yield (TIPS) directly influence the macro environment for Adjusted NFCI. Investors should monitor both the trigger condition and Adjusted NFCI's response to position accordingly.

Scenario Background

The 10-year real yield (TIPS yield, DFII10) represents the inflation-adjusted return on a 10-year Treasury. When this yield is negative, holders lose purchasing power over the bond's lifetime, which has historically supported gold, long-duration tech stocks, and other inflation-sensitive assets. A transition from negative to positive real yields marks a meaningful regime shift.

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Historical Context

10Y real yields were deeply negative from 2020-2022 (-1.0% to -1.5%), supporting extreme asset price appreciation. They turned positive in May 2022 and reached 2.6% in October 2023, the highest since 2008. This transition coincided with gold consolidation, bitcoin drawdowns, and growth-to-value rotation in equities. Pre-2008, real yields were routinely 2-4% positive. The post-2008 era of negative/near-zero real yields was historically unusual.

What to Watch For

  • 10Y real yield above 1.5%
  • 5Y real yield (DFII5) also positive
  • TIPS breakeven inflation declining
  • Gold consolidating or declining
  • Equity P/E multiples compressing

Other Assets When 10-Year Real Yields Turn Positive

Other Scenarios Affecting Adjusted NFCI

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