Vanguard Treasuries Markets?

[whatchamacallit]

I think I am missing something within Vanguard when trying figure out how to buy treasuries directly.

I have an IRA brokerage account already setup and can find the bonds and CDs. All of the bonds and CDs besides treasuries have a buy/sell button.

When I looked at the treasuries in auction I see a list of the different treasuries but no buy/sell buttons. Maybe this is because there are no treasuries currently in auction?

When I search for treasuries in secondary market I receive the message "No offerings matched your search criteria." I didn't change the filters except to check off all of the treasuries like t-bills, notes, bonds.

Am I searching incorrectly or are there really no treasuries currently available at Vanguard?

[WildAboutHarry]

Vanguard treasury listings do not become active until the auction is announced (usually a week before the auction).

[Pointedstick]

So Vanguard doesn't allow purchases on the secondary market?

[craigr]

So Vanguard doesn't allow purchases on the secondary market?

Yes they do. You can do it online using their bond desk. No need to wait for an auction.

[whatchamacallit]

Is it because I am searching the secondary market when the bond desk is closed?

I found this blurb from here:

https://personal.vanguard.com/us/help/F ... ontent.jsp

Please note that bond trading hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Eastern time.

[WildAboutHarry]

Auctions need to be announced, or Vanguard will not allow you to place orders for upcoming auctions.

The bond desk needs to have securities available that meet your search criteria.

[hoost]

If I remember correctly, you need to search while the bond desk is open.  I believe I posted my experience to the bond buying tutorial.  Too tired to look up the link to the post now, but I may link to it tomorrow if I remember.  Otherwise, try searching again tomorrow during business hours.

[WildAboutHarry]

I recall doing successful weekend searches on ZionsDirect, which uses the same BondDesk system.

Maybe Vanguard is different?

[Tortoise]

When I tried looking up T-bonds on Vanguard last night it said no bonds matched my search criteria. But when I tried again this morning, a list of bonds showed up and I successfully bought one of them. So you just need to do the search during business hours.