According to CoinMeta, data from the CME shows that over the past two weeks, as U.S. bond prices have generally risen, the number of open contracts has also increased accordingly. Open contracts are an indicator of new risk positions taken by investors in the futures market. This has gradually brought the market back to a more balanced state from the extremely bearish levels at the beginning of last month, when investment sentiment was at its most pessimistic. Insight Investment North American Fixed Income Director Brendan Murphy stated that the market is no longer looking for reasons to sell; instead, there has been a shift in sentiment, with traders now seemingly seeking reasons to buy. He believes this is because a large portion of the bearish positions have been cleared, and many short sellers have exited the market. Traders are awaiting catalysts that could shake the market, including the results of the U.S. mid-term elections, the Treasury Department's quarterly debt issuance announcements, and the U.S. employment report to be released on Friday. Meanwhile, peace negotiations in the Middle East are intermittent, and oil prices continue to fluctuate.