January 19, 2022
For nearly a decade we have grown accustomed to the idea that inflation was off the table as a concern for the U.S. economy, even lulling the Federal Reserve (Fed) into first calling its sudden resurgence last summer a “transitory” event.
Among those concerned in particular about rising inflation are fixed income investors, who have a vested interest in how this trend will affect the fixed income portion of their investment portfolios over the long haul.
Diversified portfolios generally have some component of their overall allocations devoted to fixed income and bond investments, a time-honored “insurance policy” to counterbalance the riskier stock component of their holdings. However, fixed income investments have been adversely impacted over the last several years by steady near-zero interest rates.
Now interest rates are rising slightly in response to elevated inflation expectations. Fixed income and bond investments had been in a bear market up to this point, with most fixed income sectors producing negative returns last year. As an example, the Bloomberg Aggregate Bond Index generated a negative return in 2021, with Treasuries being the worst-performing sector of the fixed income market.
With interest rates trending upward, the bond market is off to its worst start of a new year in over twenty years. Yields continue to move higher in anticipation the Fed will be raising its benchmark rate target sooner and more often in 2022 than thought just a few months ago. The rate on the 10-year Treasury has recently been hovering around 1.75% (the increase will be reflected in higher mortgage borrowing rates) after finishing 2021 at 1.51%. The cost of energy is also not helping the inflation picture, as the price of crude has steadily increased, with the West Texas Intermediate benchmark currently crossing the $80 per barrel mark in early January.
Can we expect inflation to continue for a while, putting continued pressure on fixed income and bond returns? We believe as long as the constraining business effects of the pandemic stretch out, inflationary influences could linger through the end of 2022. Moreover, supply chain shocks are not going away anytime soon. Shipping challenges, material shortages, and labor issues are still in flux, and wages and commodity prices are on the rise.
The roots of inflation have grown and spread more broadly across the economy. As inflation rises, the Fed traditionally pushes interest rates up with more robust monetary money tightening policies to combat the effect of rising prices. And in “Bond 101,” it’s important to remember the inverse relationship – bond prices go down when interest rates go up.
How will we know if inflation is waxing or waning? Generally, you can monitor two key inflation indices, Core CPI (Consumer Price Index) and core PCE (Personal Consumption Expenditures). The “core” part excludes food and energy prices because of the volatile nature of those components. So, it helps to give a better picture of where inflation is.
And as mentioned, the year-over-year number reported in December for core CPI was 5.5%, very high in terms of the last 30 to 40 years. Core PCE is just a little bit different than CPI, tending to be a bit lower number over time. Both indexes calculate the price level by pricing a basket of goods. But the baskets aren’t the same, with differences in weighting and scope. For example, the weight accorded to housing is around 42% in CPI, while it is only 15% in PCE. At the start of 2021, core CPI was below 2.0%. Since then core CPI has more than doubled, so inflation is on the rise, and interest rates tend to follow.
Despite upward trending inflation that creates this unexceptional interest rate environment, we believe fixed income investments still serve their important role in an investment portfolio by offsetting volatility associated with other asset classes, essentially acting as an insurance policy against a falling stock market should one occur. Interest rate hikes have a long lead time before the economy is affected. Currently, investors believe we could see the first rate hike in the spring, and that could be a headwind for stock prices. Downside risk associated with stocks remains significantly higher than what bonds have historically experienced.
Maintaining your portfolio’s value through the effects of inflation and market volatility during any stage of your life can be quite challenging. We would encourage investors to consult with their financial advisors to ensure their financial plan projections are up to date as inflation rate assumptions change. Our Commerce Trust Financial Advisory Services group can help clients with these decisions, especially those in a pre-retirement phase. We are here to address your current and future concerns and help you make educated decisions based on your goals and unique financial situation. Contact a Commerce Trust portfolio manager today for more information regarding your options.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results, and the opinions and other information in the commentary are as of January 19, 2022.
This summary is intended to provide general information only, may be of value to the reader and audience, and any opinions expressed herein are subject to change.
This material is not a recommendation of any particular security or investment strategy, is not based on any particular financial situation or need and is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified attorney, tax advisor or investment professional. Diversification does not guarantee a profit or protect against all risk.
Commerce does not provide tax advice or legal advice to customers. Consult a tax specialist regarding tax implications related to any product and specific financial situation.
Data contained herein from third-party providers is obtained from what are considered reliable sources. However, its accuracy, completeness or reliability cannot be guaranteed, and is subject to change rapidly as additional information regarding the conditions which impact the represented subject matter may change.
Diversification does not guarantee a profit or protect against all risk.
Commerce Trust is a division of Commerce Bank.
For nearly a decade we have grown accustomed to the idea that inflation was off the table as a concern for the U.S. economy, even lulling the Federal Reserve (Fed) into first calling its sudden resurgence last summer a “transitory” event.
Among those concerned in particular about rising inflation are fixed income investors, who have a vested interest in how this trend will affect the fixed income portion of their investment portfolios over the long haul.
Diversified portfolios generally have some component of their overall allocations devoted to fixed income and bond investments, a time-honored “insurance policy” to counterbalance the riskier stock component of their holdings. However, fixed income investments have been adversely impacted over the last several years by steady near-zero interest rates.
Now interest rates are rising slightly in response to elevated inflation expectations. Fixed income and bond investments had been in a bear market up to this point, with most fixed income sectors producing negative returns last year. As an example, the Bloomberg Aggregate Bond Index generated a negative return in 2021, with Treasuries being the worst-performing sector of the fixed income market.
With interest rates trending upward, the bond market is off to its worst start of a new year in over twenty years. Yields continue to move higher in anticipation the Fed will be raising its benchmark rate target sooner and more often in 2022 than thought just a few months ago. The rate on the 10-year Treasury has recently been hovering around 1.75% (the increase will be reflected in higher mortgage borrowing rates) after finishing 2021 at 1.51%. The cost of energy is also not helping the inflation picture, as the price of crude has steadily increased, with the West Texas Intermediate benchmark currently crossing the $80 per barrel mark in early January.
Can we expect inflation to continue for a while, putting continued pressure on fixed income and bond returns? We believe as long as the constraining business effects of the pandemic stretch out, inflationary influences could linger through the end of 2022. Moreover, supply chain shocks are not going away anytime soon. Shipping challenges, material shortages, and labor issues are still in flux, and wages and commodity prices are on the rise.
The roots of inflation have grown and spread more broadly across the economy. As inflation rises, the Fed traditionally pushes interest rates up with more robust monetary money tightening policies to combat the effect of rising prices. And in “Bond 101,” it’s important to remember the inverse relationship – bond prices go down when interest rates go up.
How will we know if inflation is waxing or waning? Generally, you can monitor two key inflation indices, Core CPI (Consumer Price Index) and core PCE (Personal Consumption Expenditures). The “core” part excludes food and energy prices because of the volatile nature of those components. So, it helps to give a better picture of where inflation is.
And as mentioned, the year-over-year number reported in December for core CPI was 5.5%, very high in terms of the last 30 to 40 years. Core PCE is just a little bit different than CPI, tending to be a bit lower number over time. Both indexes calculate the price level by pricing a basket of goods. But the baskets aren’t the same, with differences in weighting and scope. For example, the weight accorded to housing is around 42% in CPI, while it is only 15% in PCE. At the start of 2021, core CPI was below 2.0%. Since then core CPI has more than doubled, so inflation is on the rise, and interest rates tend to follow.
Despite upward trending inflation that creates this unexceptional interest rate environment, we believe fixed income investments still serve their important role in an investment portfolio by offsetting volatility associated with other asset classes, essentially acting as an insurance policy against a falling stock market should one occur. Interest rate hikes have a long lead time before the economy is affected. Currently, investors believe we could see the first rate hike in the spring, and that could be a headwind for stock prices. Downside risk associated with stocks remains significantly higher than what bonds have historically experienced.
Maintaining your portfolio’s value through the effects of inflation and market volatility during any stage of your life can be quite challenging. We would encourage investors to consult with their financial advisors to ensure their financial plan projections are up to date as inflation rate assumptions change. Our Commerce Trust Financial Advisory Services group can help clients with these decisions, especially those in a pre-retirement phase. We are here to address your current and future concerns and help you make educated decisions based on your goals and unique financial situation. Contact a Commerce Trust portfolio manager today for more information regarding your options.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results, and the opinions and other information in the commentary are as of January 19, 2022.
This summary is intended to provide general information only, may be of value to the reader and audience, and any opinions expressed herein are subject to change.
This material is not a recommendation of any particular security or investment strategy, is not based on any particular financial situation or need and is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified attorney, tax advisor or investment professional. Diversification does not guarantee a profit or protect against all risk.
Commerce does not provide tax advice or legal advice to customers. Consult a tax specialist regarding tax implications related to any product and specific financial situation.
Data contained herein from third-party providers is obtained from what are considered reliable sources. However, its accuracy, completeness or reliability cannot be guaranteed, and is subject to change rapidly as additional information regarding the conditions which impact the represented subject matter may change.
Diversification does not guarantee a profit or protect against all risk.
Commerce Trust is a division of Commerce Bank.
