📉 Money managers who loaded up on US government bonds as a bet against recession are now facing subpar returns and a deepening selloff as Treasury yields rise.
📉 The annual return on US government bonds turned negative last week as Treasury yields reach a 15-year high, suggesting that interest rates will remain elevated and the economy can handle it.
📉 Bob Michele, CIO for fixed income at J.P. Morgan Asset Management, remains undeterred and is buying every dip in bond prices.
📉 Other prominent money managers, including Allianz Global Investors, Abrdn Investments, Columbia Threadneedle Investments, and DoubleLine Capital, believe that the impact of Federal Reserve rate hikes is just starting to be felt by the economy and predict a recession.
📉 Fund managers are making adjustments to duration to hedge their positions, with some shortening duration while others maintain overweight positions.
📉 Historical patterns suggest that rate hikes often lead to slumping economies, but it remains uncertain whether yields will follow the same pattern this time.
📉 The borrowing needs of wealthy economies and the flood of debt issuance may lead to higher yields.
📉 Despite the current environment, some funds that took short bond, long stock positions have faced significant drawdowns, indicating that rates may remain elevated.
📉 J.P. Morgan's Michele is confident that bond yields will fall once the Fed finishes its tightening cycle, even before the first rate cut.
The tone of the Jackson Hole economic symposium in 2023 is expected to focus on how long rates will stay high rather than how far they may rise, as the bond market prices in a higher for longer policy path from the Fed, potentially delivering a blow to the market's expectation of a more accommodative Fed.
Two Federal Reserve officials suggest that interest-rate increases may be coming to an end, but one of them believes that further hikes may still be necessary depending on inflation trends.
Investors should consider moving into longer-dated bonds as historical data shows that the broader U.S. bond market typically outperforms short-term Treasurys at the end of Federal Reserve rate hiking cycles, according to Saira Malik, chief investment officer at Nuveen.
The Federal Reserve is considering raising interest rates again in order to reduce inflation to its targeted levels, as indicated by Fed Governor Michelle W. Bowman, who stated that additional rate increases will likely be needed; however, conflicting economic indicators, such as job growth and wage growth, may complicate the decision-making process.
The Federal Reserve is expected to keep interest rates steady and signal that it is done raising rates for this economic cycle, as the bond market indicates that inflation trends are moving in the right direction.
The Federal Reserve's continued message of higher interest rates is expected to impact Treasury yields and the U.S. dollar, with the 10-year Treasury yield predicted to experience a slight increase and the U.S. dollar expected to edge higher.
The Federal Reserve plans to continue reducing its holdings of Treasury securities, agency debt, and agency mortgage-backed securities, which will have an impact on stock markets, while keeping interest rates at current levels due to the lagged effect of monetary policy and the need for the commercial real estate market to adjust; however, there are concerns about the impact of tighter credit conditions on hiring and an increase in strikes, particularly in the auto industry. Elevated interest rates will pressure dividend-income investors and affect Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), while the reduction of securities by the Fed may lead to a decline in stock indices. The Fed is considering raising rates in November or December but is uncertain about how long rates will remain at current levels. The core personal consumption expenditure is falling, and rising energy prices are increasing overall inflation, but the Fed is excluding energy prices due to volatility and suggests that high oil prices may impact its stance in the future. Stock market traders have a short-term time frame and may find instruments like Instacart (CART) and Arm (ARM) more suitable, while long-term investors should prepare for the market adjusting to the Fed's restrictive policy by moving capital gains into money market funds, considering energy stocks at lower prices, and being cautious of high-flying technology stocks and IPOs.
The Federal Reserve leaves interest rates unchanged but projects one more rate hike this year, causing stock markets to slump and Treasury yields to rise; Instacart shares drop, Klaviyo shares rise, and the Writers Guild of America hopes to end a five-month-long strike in Hollywood; CEO Jeffrey Gundlach warns of the "problematic" impact of the recent oil spike on the economy, potentially leading to another interest rate hike by the end of the year; despite concerns, the Fed highlights strong economic growth forecasts and suggests the possibility of the US economy continuing to run hotter than anticipated.
The Federal Reserve's plans for prolonged elevated interest rates may continue to put pressure on stocks and bonds, although some investors doubt that the central bank will follow through with its projections.
The Federal Reserve has indicated that interest rates will remain "higher for longer," potentially for at least three more years, in order to sustain economic growth and combat inflation.
Bill Ackman, CEO of Pershing Square Capital, believes that the Federal Reserve's goal of 2% inflation is unlikely to be achieved in the near future due to factors such as ongoing worker's strikes and the rising national debt, and he predicts long-term rates will rise further as a result.
The Federal Reserve's interest rate hikes have negatively affected bond market ETFs, particularly those invested in long-duration U.S. Treasurys, as yields have risen and prices have fallen. Higher interest rates in the future could further impact bond ETFs, causing yields to rise and prices to decline.
Billionaire investor Bill Ackman expects 30-year interest rates to increase further and sees inflation remaining high, while his hedge fund remains short on bonds.
Bond investors are faced with the decision of how much risk to take with Treasury yields at their highest levels in more than a decade and the Federal Reserve signaling a pause in rate hikes.
U.S. Treasury yields rose as investors considered future interest rates and awaited economic data, with expectations that rates will remain higher and uncertainties surrounding a potential government shutdown and the upcoming Fed meetings.
Stock futures decline and Treasury yields rise as Wall Street believes the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates higher for longer.
Mounting fears of rates staying elevated for longer sent jitters through global risk assets, pushing U.S. Treasury yields to a peak not seen since the early stages of the 2007-2008 financial crisis and the dollar to a 10-month high.
J.P. Morgan strategists predict that the Federal Reserve will maintain higher interest rates until the third quarter of next year due to a strong economy and continued inflation, with implications for inflation, earnings, and equity valuations as well as potential impact from a government shutdown.
Households and hedge funds are increasingly investing in the Treasury market as yields on bonds rise, attracting investors amid rate hikes by the Federal Reserve.
Investors are becoming increasingly concerned about sustained high interest rates, with the bond and foreign-exchange markets already showing signs of adjusting, and if stock markets do not follow suit, the coming months could be particularly challenging.
Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman believes long-term Treasury yields could reach 5% as stubborn inflation persists and the Federal Reserve struggles to lower it, with high energy prices and a resurgent labor movement contributing to the issue.
Rising Treasury rates and oil prices are creating an unfavorable situation for consumers, investors, and the economy, making it challenging for the Federal Reserve to manage inflation without causing a recession. The potential for a "soft landing" and decreased inflation remains, but the economy should prepare for possible sector-by-sector recessions and a full-blown recession, along with government shutdowns and fiscal policy disputes becoming normal occurrences. The discrepancy between short-term and longer-term rates controlled by the Fed has gained importance, with higher borrowing costs disrupting the stock and bond markets. In this volatile period, long-term investors should hold on and ensure they have enough money saved to weather the storm. While the Fed has pushed short-term rates higher, it has also benefited savers with higher yields on money market funds, short-term Treasury bills, and high-yield savings accounts. However, a strong dollar has impacted S&P 500 earnings, leading to a struggling stock market and increased costs for imports and exports. Rising interest rates pose the greatest economic challenge, affecting consumer loans and dampening spending. Traders who bet on long-term bonds have faced losses due to rising rates, highlighting the inverse relationship between interest rates and bond prices. As a result, it may be advisable to purchase shorter-term Treasuries and keep bond durations lower. The surge in bond yields has also disrupted stock investors' expectations of controlled inflation and the Fed's tightening, leading to stock market losses. The economy and markets may experience more turmoil, as there are various factors beyond the Federal Reserve's control.
Financial risk strategist Larry McDonald warns that a slowdown in the economy and increasing debt levels may force the Federal Reserve to reconsider its strategy of hiking interest rates, potentially leading to a big debt default cycle next year, and advises investors to shift their focus from growth stocks to hard assets and commodities such as "sexy metals" like uranium and copper, as well as real estate and art.
The Treasury market is leading the equity market as long-term yields rise to their highest level in 16 years, suggesting investors should pay attention to bond market movements for stock market trends, with an optimistic outlook for AI companies in the coming months.
Rising interest rates, rather than inflation, are now a major concern for the US economy, as the bond market indicates that rates may stay high for an extended period of time, potentially posing significant challenges for the sustainability of government debt.
Bill Ackman, CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management, warns that the economy is starting to slow due to aggressive rate hikes, high mortgage rates, and high credit card rates, leading to concerns about a potential recession and impacting investors in the commercial real estate market.
Interest rates for certificates of deposit and high-yield savings accounts have increased significantly in recent years due to the Federal Reserve's rate hikes, but it is uncertain if rates will continue to rise or if they have reached their peak.
Treasury yields are expected to rise even further, possibly surpassing 5%, due to concerns of inflation and the Federal Reserve's stance on interest rate hikes, leading bond investors to sell off and causing volatility in both the bond and stock markets.
Federal Reserve officials are not concerned about the recent rise in U.S. Treasury yields and believe it could actually be beneficial in combating inflation. They also stated that if the labor market cools and inflation returns to the desired target, interest rates can remain steady. Higher long-term borrowing costs can slow the economy and ease inflation pressures. However, if the rise in yields leads to a sharp economic slowdown or unemployment surge, the Fed will react accordingly.
Longer-term Treasurys and other fixed income investments are recommended to navigate the impact of rising bond yields, offering attractive opportunities and higher yields to those looking to park their cash.
Long-term bond yields have surged as the Federal Reserve reduces its bond portfolio and the U.S. Treasury sells debt, contrary to the expectations of Wall Street and investors worldwide, but a research paper written by a University of Michigan student six years ago accurately predicted this scenario.
The Federal Reserve is expected to keep interest rates higher for longer due to the potential inflation caused by rising oil prices amid the escalating war between Israel and Hamas, according to billionaire venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya.
Top Federal Reserve officials have indicated that rising yields on long-term U.S. Treasury bonds may halt further increases in the short-term policy rate, as the central bank monitors potential risks to the economy.
Rising interest rates on government bonds could pose a threat to the U.S. economy, potentially slowing growth, increasing borrowing costs, and impacting the Biden administration's priorities and the 2024 presidential election.
Wall Street and policymakers at the Federal Reserve are optimistic that the rise in long-term Treasury yields could put an end to historic interest rate hikes meant to curb inflation, with financial markets now seeing a nearly 90% chance that the US central bank will keep rates unchanged at its next policy meeting on October 31 through November 1.
Investors are betting that the Federal Reserve may not raise interest rates again due to recent market moves that are expected to cool economic growth.
The U.S. stock market is currently trading at a discount to fair value, and Morningstar expects rates to come down faster due to optimism on inflation; strong growth is projected in Q3, but the economy may slow down in Q4, and inflation is expected to fall in 2023 and reach the Fed's 2% target in 2024. The report also provides outlooks for various sectors, including technology, energy, and utilities, and highlights some top stock picks. The fixed-income outlook suggests that while interest rates may rise in the short term, rates are expected to come down over time, making it a good time for longer-term fixed-income investments. The corporate bond market has outperformed this year, and although bankruptcies and downgrades may increase, investors are still being adequately compensated for the risks.
The Federal Reserve officials were uncertain about the future of the economy and decided to proceed with caution in their interest-rate policy, weighing the risks of overtightening versus insufficient tightening. They were divided on the frequency of rate hikes, with a majority supporting one more increase, but some feeling that the policy rate was nearing its peak. The recent spike in long-term bond rates has led to speculation that the Fed may not raise rates again this cycle.
Former IMF Chief Economist Kenneth Rogoff predicts that bond yields will remain high for a prolonged period, and warns that the Federal Reserve will have a challenging task in anchoring inflation expectations.
The Federal Reserve will continue with its 'higher-for-longer' interest rate narrative unless there are signs of a slowdown in the consumer sector.
Federal Reserve officials are expected to pause on raising interest rates at their next meeting due to recent increases in bond yields, but they are not ruling out future rate increases as economic data continues to show a strong economy and potential inflation risks. The Fed is cautious about signaling an end to further tightening and is focused on balancing the risk of overshooting inflation targets with the need to avoid a recession. The recent surge in bond yields may provide some restraint on the economy, but policymakers are closely monitoring financial conditions and inflation expectations.
Rise in long-term Treasury yields may put an end to historic interest rate hikes that were meant to lower inflation, as 10-year Treasury yields approach 5% and 30-year fixed rate mortgages inch towards 8%. This could result in economic pain for American consumers who will face higher car loans, credit card rates, and student debt. However, it could also help bring down prices and lower inflation towards the Federal Reserve's target goal.
US Federal Reserve policymakers believe that the recent rise in bond yields is not solely due to market expectations of further rate hikes but is also influenced by factors such as the return of the "term premium," which could reduce the need for additional rate hikes.
