Steve,
Good analysis. They are indeed short 30yrs through the huge amount of FOB steepeners they have on (probably about 100,000 fives to 40,000 bonds before December). PIMCO began to take a portion of this position off late in the year (imagine just taking it off the books) and was back briefly so far this year buying more FOB's. The position is a bit smaller than it used to be, but they definitely have steepeners on, and for some reason they tend to trade their steepener view through the FOB more than the NOB.
Good analysis. They are indeed short 30yrs through the huge amount of FOB steepeners they have on (probably about 100,000 fives to 40,000 bonds before December). PIMCO began to take a portion of this position off late in the year (imagine just taking it off the books) and was back briefly so far this year buying more FOB's. The position is a bit smaller than it used to be, but they definitely have steepeners on, and for some reason they tend to trade their steepener view through the FOB more than the NOB.