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Fixed Income Insights
Weekly Fixed Income Commentary: Democratic victories boost Treasury yields
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U.S. Treasury yields closed higher last week, led by longer maturities. Democratic victories in both Georgia Senate races led investors to expect significantly more fiscal stimulus, which could further spark economic growth. The Federal Reserve (Fed) reaffirmed that asset purchases would continue until “substantial further progress” was made toward its goals.
Fixed Income Insights
Weekly Fixed Income Commentary: Treasury yields rise on positive investor sentiment
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U.S. Treasury yields closed higher last week, led by longer maturities. Investors were encouraged by positive news related to Brexit, coronavirus vaccines and U.S. fiscal relief efforts. The Federal Reserve (Fed) remained dovish at its December meeting, maintaining asset purchases at least at the current level for the foreseeable future.
Retirement
Plan Talk: How to Use Client Motivations to Encourage Better Social Security Decisions
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Many American workers fear that the Social Security trust could be depleted in the not-so-distant future, which may lead some individuals to collect their benefits early – a decision that can significantly reduce their earned benefit. In this episode of Plan Talk, Retirement Director Ben Rizzuto explains research-based techniques that can be used to help ensure people more fully consider their options and make better decisions regarding when to claim this important earned benefit.
Fixed Income Insights
Weekly Fixed Income Commentary: Risk-off sentiment drives Treasury yields lower
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U.S. Treasury yields declined last week, led by longer maturities. Risk sentiment deteriorated, with investors concerned about a potential no-deal Brexit, rising coronavirus cases and waning prospects for additional U.S. fiscal stimulus. This week’s Federal Reserve (Fed) meeting is not expected to result in any policy shifts, but the Fed could extend the maturity of its Treasury purchases.
Fixed Income Insights
Weekly Fixed Income Commentary: Treasury yields rise on prospects for stimulus
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Long U.S. Treasury yields increased sharply last week, while shorter-maturity yields were little changed. Prospects for additional U.S. fiscal stimulus, boosted by weaker-than-expected employment data, provided investors with hope that a new federal aid package would lift future growth. Concerns remain over short-term virus-related challenges, however.
Fixed Income Insights
The Shape of Credit
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In this Q&A, Portfolio Managers Jason England, Nick Maroutsos and Dan Siluk discuss the factors shaping credit markets, from central bank support to potential resilience from financials.
Key Takeaways
- Corporate earnings and cash flows are under strain, but while defaults are likely to increase, they should continue to be largely contained to sub-investment-grade issuers.
- Massive and proactive central bank support measures have injected confidence into markets, but this does not preclude sporadic bouts of future volatility and warrants a selective approach.
- We believe more resilient opportunities are likely to be found in higher-quality, shorter-dated investment-grade issues and continue to favor financial sector bonds and corporates with defensive attributes.
Fixed Income Insights
Building Bond Portfolios on a Strong Housing Market
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Conventional wisdom would suggest that rising unemployment would have discouraged consumers from making large contractual obligations like buying a new home, but the pandemic has affected the way many Americans think about housing. Portfolio Managers John Kerschner and Nick Childs discuss why this is happening and what it could mean for bond investors.