Basis Points

There are many factors that investors consider when looking for forward guidance on global interest rate trends. In this week’s podcast, Kevin Flanagan discusses why the German bund market is one factor investors should keep their eye on over the next few months.

Last Friday marked the first ‘real’ data day for the bond market with the release of the final jobs report for 2019. In this week’s podcast, Kevin Flanagan discusses how the December 2019 jobs report falls right in line with our 2020 outlook for the U.S. economy.

The end of December brings “the turn” to fixed income investors’ minds. “The turn” represents the period around the final business day of the calendar year when banks need to address their cash needs to get through this crucial funding period. Kevin Flanagan discusses how the Fed will handle year-end funding pressures.

After three consecutive rate cuts, the Fed decided to stay on the sidelines at their final gathering for 2019. Kevin Flanagan discusses the results of today’s FOMC meeting and what fixed income investors should expect from 2020.

Should U.S. Treasury yields be this low, given the current investment landscape? In this week’s podcast, Kevin Flanagan discusses why he believes investors should follow the old adage “Don’t fight the tape.”

While generally 2019 thus far has been a year of falling rates, going forward, the path seems less certain for a host of reasons. Kevin Flanagan discusses.

What a difference a month makes in bond-land. Just when investors thought U.S. Treasury yields were on the verge of moving even lower, a rather visible sell-off ensues. What could have caused such a shift in sentiment? Kevin Flanagan discusses.

With yield curves inverting, trade wars heating up, data on manufacturing softening and the ultimate Federal Reserve change in monetary policy resulting in three rate cuts all occurring simultaneously, it was hard not to succumb to recession fears. The good news is that it looks like the worst of the recession fears may have passed. Kevin Flanagan discusses.

As widely expected, the Federal Reserve once again voted to cut rates at its October FOMC meeting, the third time in 2019. The question that now comes to mind is whether the third time’s a charm. Kevin Flanagan discusses.

Without much fanfare, an interesting development has occurred in the bond market thus far in October: The Treasury yield curve ‘un-inverted’. Does this flash the ‘all clear’ signal for the U.S. economy? Kevin Flanagan discusses.