Perspectives

• Interest rates finished marginally lower in a volatile month with a market captivated by the much-anticipated election and related investment implications.
• As widely expected, the US Federal Reserve (Fed) cut the funds rate by 25 bps to a target range of 4.50% – 4.75%, bringing cumulative cuts for this cycle to 75 bps. Fed Chair Powell signaled they were in no hurry to lower rates further.
• The biggest risk to the economy is inflation staying at these higher levels just as the labor market is cooling. This could force a higher-for-longer strategy from monetary authorities that could tip the economy into a downturn. We also see the potential for wider tail risks under the new administration’s policies.

TAXABLE BOND MARKET UPDATE & OUTLOOK

• The yield curve moved to a flat position with Longer-term 10-year Treasury yields declining 11 basis points (bps) to 4.17%, while the 2-year Treasury yield closed only 2 bps lower at 4.16%.
• Following the decisive outcome of the election, interest-rate volatility declined significantly from its one-year peak, toward the bottom-end of its year-to-date trading range.
• The Bloomberg US Aggregate Bond Index returned approximately 1%, with all sectors of the market delivering positive total returns. The bond market has eked out close to a 3% return year to date.
• The economy continued to show remarkable resilience with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta’s Q4 GDPNow model estimating a solid 2.7% growth pace. The US economy remains supported by a confident consumer and a strong labor market.
• Inflation remained sticky with the Fed’s favored measure running at 2.8% year-over-year, still well above its 2% target range.
• At the end of November, the futures market was pricing a 3.75% fed funds rate by the end of 2025, where in September it once saw 2.75%.
• Investment grade and high yield corporate bonds saw modest spread tightening of 6 and 17 bps, respectively, offering modest excess returns relative to Treasuries. The sector continues to benefit from solid corporate earnings and strong investor demand for high-quality yield.
• Agency mortgage-back securities outperformed similar duration Treasuries, reversing all the underperformance seen in the prior month. The sector benefited from lower volatility and the potential for reduced bank regulation under the new administration.