Basis Points

Navigating today’s fixed income market is about more than timing—it’s about strategy. This week on the Basis Points podcast, Kevin Flanagan highlights the Bianco Research Fixed Income Total Return Index's recent re-positioning to neutral duration, underscoring how active management adapts to steepening yield curves and credit risks.

Basis Point: 1/100th of a percent

Bianco Research Fixed-Income Total Return Index: The

Bianco Research Fixed Income Total Return Index seeks to outperform a comparable baseline neutral portfolio of fixed income securities.

The U.S. Treasury market reacted sharply to last week’s election and Fed meeting. This week on the Basis Points podcast, Kevin Flanagan unpacks why Treasury yields are likely to stay elevated in the months ahead.

Basis point: 1/100th of 1 percent.

After a bold 50-basis point (bp) cut in September, the Fed dialed down to a 25-bp rate reduction at today’s FOMC meeting. This week on the Basis Points podcast, Kevin Flanagan breaks down how shifting economic data is complicating the path for future rate cuts—and why the Fed might even pause by early 2025 if inflation gets sticky and the labor markets don’t soften as expected.

Basis Point: 1/100th of 1 percent.

A barbell strategy builds a strong foundation for a bond portfolio, but how can investors enhance that? This week on the Basis Points podcast, Kevin Flanagan explains how securitized fixed income could potentially boost investor portfolios with added income from mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities.

The U.S. Treasury market has experienced two significant rallies over the past year, with investors waiting for a validation of declining yields. This week on the Basis Points podcast, Kevin Flanagan discusses the recent UST yield reversal, shifting Fed rate cut expectations, and the potential impact of upcoming economic data on the bond market.

The private credit market may be primed for more attention with the start of the latest rate cut cycle. This week on the Basis Points podcast, Kevin Flanagan is joined by the CEO of Gapstow Capital Partners, Chris Acito to discuss the latest on this growing asset class. They also offer insight into how the WisdomTree Alternative Income Fund, HYIN, can offer strategic exposure for investors and advisors.

With the Fed “recalibrating” monetary policy towards rate cuts, the uncertainty now shifts to the timing and magnitude of this easing. In the latest Basis Points episode of the Money in Motion series, Kevin Flanagan presents a barbell approach, utilizing our Floating Rate Treasury Fund (USFR) and Yield Enhanced U.S. Aggregate Bond Fund (AGGY). 

Basis point: 1/100th of 1 percent. 

Barbell: The barbell is an investment strategy applicable primarily to a fixed income portfolio. 

After much anticipation, the Fed finally delivered a rate cut at today’s FOMC meeting. This week on the Basis Points podcast, Kevin Flanagan examines the Fed’s data-driven approach, the potential disconnect between market expectations and Fed actions and the crucial role employment data will play in shaping future rate cuts.

The UST 2-Year/10-Year yield curve has recently shifted into positive territory, while the UST 3-month/10-Year curve remains deeply inverted. This week on a special episode of the Basis Points podcast, Kevin Flanagan discusses the divergence between the curves, and highlights market expectations on future Fed rate cuts and the potential for a steepening trend ahead.

Basis Point: 1/100th of a percent.

With Labor Day behind us, the focus for money and bond markets shifts to the September FOMC meeting, where Fed Chair Powell has hinted at a rate cut. This week on the Basis Points podcast, Kevin Flanagan explores the implications of the upcoming September FOMC meeting and discusses the Fed’s shift in focus from inflation to labor market data.

Basis point: 1/100th of 1 percent.