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Returning to Normal?

January 1, 2023 | Commentary

  • From the Great Financial Crisis (GFC) through 2021 policy interest rates around the developed world hovered at or below zero. Viewed in some circles as a slain dragon, inflation returned with a vengeance in 2021 prompting central banks to raise rates as their best defense against further price acceleration.
  • As 2022 drew to a close, the rate of U.S. inflation was falling but still running well above the Fed’s target of 2%. Uncertainty about how much higher policy rates may be raised, and how long they may be held at elevated levels, continues to create volatility across asset classes.
  • The last time the Fed Funds Rate was above 5% was in Q3 2007, right before the housing market collapse and the severe recession that followed the GFC. Many believe that recent Fed action could precipitate a similar economic downturn. However, major parts of the economy, especially the strength of the banking system and the relatively less leveraged housing sector, are different today. Drawing simple parallels between the GFC and now is likely misguided.
  • With higher rates, bonds can provide a meaningful contribution to target returns while providing some protection against equity risk. The traditional balance between stocks and bonds, essentially missing in the era of zero interest rates, is once again a viable possibility. We might be returning to a world considered normal prior to the GFC.

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