report by BlackRock
Results for ""
Market Outlooks
Vlog: Quarter-end Q&A 1Q2021
Tim Holland, CFA, Chief Investment Officer, asks and answers three top-of-mind questions as investors receive their quarterly statements and reflect on the past quarter.
Market Outlooks
Back to the future of fixed income, part 2: The search for more income
This piece is approved to use with clients.
In our original Back to the future of fixed income, we explored the value of and demand for income in an era of historically low government yields. For a sequel, we delve into an oft-maligned and misunderstood market segment: high yield. Described less generously as ‘junk’, we see a complex and evolving market segment, one that is essential in any conversation about income.
Fixed Income Insights
Beware the ides of March
This piece is approved to use with clients.
As the first quarter draws to a close, investors should be mindful of the seasonal weakness typically seen with municipal bonds (munis) at this time of year. This seasonality is due to a confluence of factors, including an uptick in supply (versus a lack of), fewer maturing bonds and lower coupon payments – and a potential pause in industry flows as a result of investors paying their tax bills in April.
Market Outlooks
Revisiting Our Bear Market Bottom Checklist
After dropping 35% from its February 19, 2020 peak of 3,393, the S&P 500 bottomed out on March 23, 2020 at 2,192, ending a selloff that included the quickest bear market in the history of the index.
Market Outlooks
Forget The Fox…What Do The Dots Say?
This piece is approved to use with clients.
“What does the fox say?” got me thinking about last week’s Federal Reserve meeting and “What do the dots say?”
Market Outlooks
Don’t Call It A Comeback
This piece is approved to use with clients.
Despite a down day Friday, it was a good week for the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite, with the index up more than 3% for the week.
Market Outlooks
Inflation: base effects versus spare capacity
This piece is approved to use with clients.
The prospect of inflation remains a hot topic for both investors and policy makers. Chair Powell, in his testimony to Congress this month stressed that ‘inflation risks are to the downside’. He stated that inflation in the coming months is likely to jump as a result of ‘base effects.’
Macroeconomic & Geopolitical
The Big Battle Of 2021: Godzilla Vs Kong, Or The Market Vs The Fed?
Last week, as the stock market came under pressure, Federal Reserve Chairman Powell testified to Congress that the Fed could, and would, remain exceptionally accommodative on the monetary policy front.
Fixed Income Insights
Why BBB munis are an A+ opportunity in our books
This piece is approved to use with clients.
Investment grade muni spreads tightened significantly since March, but still remain elevated in some areas versus historical averages.
Fixed Income Insights
February 2021 Fixed Income Market Update
This piece is approved to use with clients.
In our view, January may prove to be a microcosm of the new year. Optimism abounds for progress against the pandemic and a rapid economic recovery, but challenges remain on both fronts.
Market Outlooks
Inflation: Much discussed but rarely witnessed
This piece is approved to use with clients.
Alongside the prospect for a strong economic recovery, a growing debate has sprung up around the path of inflation and whether it could derail growth.
Fixed Income Insights
“No Jules, It’s High-Yield Bonds”
If you think back on Wall Street in the ‘80s, a few things come to mind: the ‘87 Crash (the S&P 500 was up that year), a secular bull market, interest rates in the teens, the movie Wall Street, corporate raiders and junk bonds.