Biogen is a biotech company that develops, manufactures, and sells therapies for treating neurological and neurodegenerative diseases. The company is the market leader in multiple sclerosis drugs and launched the first approved treatments for spinal muscular atrophy and Alzheimer's disease. The company also sells products that treat plaque psoriasis, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, lymphocytic leukemia, and rheumatoid arthritis. Current research continues on MS and has expanded to include neuroimmunology, ophthalmology, lupus, and other neuromuscular and movement disorders. Founded in 1978, the company is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, employs 7,570 people, and is a component of the S&P 500.

At midday Wednesday, the major benchmarks were broadly higher amid a softer consumer inflation print for April and lower bond yields. The Consumer Price Index rose 0.3% in April, lower than the 0.4% consensus and matching the prior month's 0.3% increase. The year-over-year figure came in at 3.4%, in line with the consensus. Shelter inflation remained elevated in April, rising 5.5% on an annual basis, with higher interest rates making housing less affordable. Prices for gas and insurance also remained on the high side from the prior month, while consumers got some relief from falling prices for new and used cars as well as household furnishings. After three consecutive monthly consumer inflation readings above expectations, the April report is a reprieve, although the Federal Reserve has said it will be looking for a consistent trend toward the 2% annualized level before lowering interest rates. Elsewhere, the Department of Commerce reported that retail sales in April were flat with the prior month, below the 0.4% consensus and the prior month's 0.6% pace. Pulling out auto and gas sales, the figure actually declined 0.1%. Some of the culprits were non-store retailers and sporting goods/hobby stores, which saw declines around 1%. The report continues a recent string of softer economic reports, including less job creation in April, with consumers now moderating spending a bit.

Biogen and Idec merged in 2003, combining forces to market Biogen's multiple sclerosis drug Avonex and Idec's cancer drug Rituxan. Today, Rituxan and next-generation antibody Gazyva are marketed via a collaboration with Roche. Biogen also markets novel multiple sclerosis drugs Plegridy, Tysabri, Tecfidera, and Vumerity. In Japan, Biogen's MS portfolio is copromoted by Eisai. Hemophilia therapies Eloctate and Alprolix (partnered with Sobi) were spun off as part of Bioverativ in 2017. Biogen's newer products include Spinraza (SMA, with partner Ionis), Leqembi (Alzheimers, with partner Eisai), Skyclarys (Friedreich's Ataxia, Reata), Zurzuvae (post-partum depression, Sage), and Qalsody (ALS, Ionis). Biogen has several drug candidates in phase 3 trials in neurology-related fields.

Demand from all corners of the globe for the safety and security of U.S. Treasury debt has acted to keep a lid on long-term interest rates, even as the Federal Reserve has raised short-term rates aggressively over the past two-plus years and inflation has remained stubbornly high. Total public debt owed by the U.S. federal government was $34 trillion at the end of 4Q23, according to the DOT. Outside of U.S. investors, the two largest holders of U.S. public debt are Japan, which owns 3.4% of the debt, and China, which owns 2.3%. The other nations among the top 10 holders have 8% of the debt, so the top 10 holders collectively own about 14%. The grand total of U.S. debt owned by foreign holders is $8.0 trillion, or about 24% of the total. This absolute holdings level has increased 200 basis points over the past six months. Japan has been a leader here, as the nation's holdings have increased by 6%, or $55 billion in the past six months. China, meanwhile, has been selling, in part for political reasons. China's current Treasury holdings are lower by about $65 billion over the past year. Over in Europe, countries such as England, France, and Luxembourg have been buyers. We think this type of global demand for U.S. Treasuries should help keep a lid on long-term rates in 2024-2025.