Basis Points

While the money and bond markets continue to debate when, not if, the first rate cut is coming, the Fed has already taken its foot off the brake in a rather visible fashion. Kevin Flanagan explains why the U.S. economy should no longer be confronted by Fed headwinds.

It’s hard to say where interest rates are headed in this uncertain landscape. Kevin Flanagan offers fixed income investors a strategic solution designed to help navigate the choppy waters that could potentially loom ahead without making a “high-conviction bet” on where rates are headed.

Certainly, no one can dispute that the shift in the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) monetary policy outlook has been the most noteworthy development that has occurred in the money and bond markets thus far in 2019. So, while the debate for 2019 and 2020 seems to have gravitated to when the Fed will actually cut rates, I offer a different take. What if the FOMC goes on a “policy sabbatical” of sorts, and just leaves well enough alone?

With another April 15 tax date come and gone, Kevin Flanagan asks: How did individual filers make out for the 2019 season versus a year ago?

If bond investors have learned anything this year, it is that the “winds of change” can blow in dramatically different directions regarding monetary policy. Kevin Flanagan discusses how market sentiment has shifted from where we were only four months ago.

It’s all about the data, with the jobs report being front and center. But what happens when the data doesn’t fit into the Treasury market’s narrative? Kevin Flanagan discusses.

After the March Fed meeting, no more rate hikes appeared to be in the offing for 2019, so naturally, the only place to go from there would be rate cuts. Kevin Flanagan analyzes the Treasury yields that look more like the Fed already cut rates but forgot to tell anyone.

The U.S. Treasury yield curve went inverted last week for the 1st time since 2007. Certainly, it is a noteworthy development in bond-land. Kevin Flanagan provides some quick insights on what this means for your fixed income portfolio.

Is the Federal Reserve leaving March by “going out like a lamb?” Kevin Flanagan discusses the outcome of this week’s FOMC meeting.

There’s nothing like a paltry 20,000 gain in total nonfarm payrolls to get market participants talking. That is exactly what happened when the February jobs report was released last week. Kevin Flanagan debates whether this is the beginning of a new, weaker trend or is it merely like ‘stubbing your toe’?