Tag Archives: interest rates
Critical Fixed Income Considerations amid RBA’s Swift Policy Moves
In May 2022, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) was among the last major central banks to begin raising interest rates during the post-COVID-19 monetary tightening cycle. In Q1 2026, the RBA is not taking any chances with inflation, becoming the first major central bank to implement two consecutive 25 bps rate hikes (in February…
- Categories Fixed Income
- Other Tags
Diversification across Durations
The S&P 500® surged to a third all-time closing high on Oct. 28, 2025, up 18% YTD. But the ride for U.S. equity investors has not always been a smooth one, with the index recouping sharp losses from earlier in the month on renewed tariff-related concerns and regional bank losses, coupled with AI bubble1 jitters…
- Categories Equities, Fixed Income
- Other Tags
Full Circle: The Resilience of Leveraged Finance
After Q1 2025 began with positive momentum, Q2 has seen some of the largest bouts of volatility in the recent past. The April 2 tariff announcements sent markets on a series of extraordinary swings. On April 8, the S&P 500® was down 15% YTD and VIX® spiked to 52.33.1 However, positive trade developments that followed…
- Categories Fixed Income
- Other Tags
Duration Distress
We’ve written previously about the traditional sources of excess return for fixed income active managers, one of which is taking on higher term or interest rate risk. 2024 witnessed a sharp reversal in the excess returns from term risk, as long duration tilts that would have rewarded managers in 2023 hurt them in 2024. A…
- Categories Fixed Income
- Other Tags
Equity Exuberance and Fixed Income Foreshadowing
In the immediate aftermath of the 2024 presidential election, U.S. equities soared on Wednesday, November 6, with the S&P 500® up 3%, while small caps surged even higher, with the S&P SmallCap 600® up a substantial 6%. Subsequently, on Thursday, November 7, the much-anticipated Fed rate cut of 25 bps came to fruition. With two…
- Categories Equities, Fixed Income
- Other Tags