Head of Fixed Income Strategy
Summary: It's time to turn cautious as the bond market is signalling a swift rise in interest rates amid strong inflationary pressures and more aggressive monetary policies. So far, risky assets have suffered due to a rise in interest rates. However, things can quickly turn for the worst as corporate spreads begin to widen as financial conditions tighten. As the Federal Reserve prepares to hike interest rates, we expect breakeven rates to drop and real yields to accelerate their rise, posing a threat to risky assets. Nominal yields will continue to rise, too, as they already point to much higher levels we have seen this year. Given the market volatility, we don't exclude seeing 10-year TIPS yields rising to 0.5% and 10-year nominal yields to 2% by the end of the year.
Investors should start to worry about their investments as there are signs of US Treasury yields moving higher, dragging with them lower-rated credits.
HYG, the iShares iBoxx High Yield Corporate Bond ETF, has broken a key support level at 86.5. Moving averages are all dropping in a sign that the ETF could further fall. Once the weak support line at 85.7 is broken, the ETF will likely continue its fall to 84.8.
The problem is that the higher US Treasury yields soar, the more pressure will be applied on weaker bonds, ultimately causing credit spreads to widen. At that point, it will be too late for risky assets as volatility will become endemic in both the bond and stock market.
One way to know when we might face a broad selloff is to monitor real yields. The faster they rise, the quicker financing conditions are tightening for the corporate space. Real yields remain well below zero. However, as the Federal Reserve prepares to tighten the economy, we can expect breakeven rates to fall and nominal yields to rise, accelerating the rise in real yields. That could provoke a deep selloff, not only within the junk bond space but also in stocks with high duration, such as tech stocks. That's is what happened amid the Taper Tantrum in 2013.
Therefore, it is vital to monitor the movements of both real and nominal yields. Below, we are going to highlight some critical levels.
Ten-year TIPS have traded rangebound since August. However, if they break above their descending trendline, they will likely rise to test resistance at -0.70%. If interest rate hikes accelerate by the end of the year, we can expect real yields to rise to -0.50%. Partly, valuations will continue to be supported by negative real yields. Still, repricing will be inevitable due to the fast rise of real yields.
Ten-year US Treasuries are trading in an uptrend. Yet, we expect them to remain in check until the debt ceiling crisis has been resolved, as they will serve as a safe haven amid volatility in money markets. At that point, they are likely to break above 1.75% and continue to rise to 2% amid inflationary pressures and more aggressive monetary policies.
Five-year yields are also trading in an uptrend towards 1.50%.
Two-year yields are likely to accelerate their rise as the market prices earlier interest rate hikes. Yields broke resistance at 0.55%, and they are now in a fast area which could take them quickly to 1%.
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Markets are driven by election optimism, overshadowing growing debt and liquidity concerns. The 2024 elections loom large, but economic fundamentals and debt issues warrant cautious investment.
As US economic slowdown hints at a shift away from exceptionalism, USD faces downside with looming Fed cuts. AUD and NZD set to outperform as their rate cuts lag. JPY gains on carry unwind bets and BOJ pivot.
Amid AI and obesity drug excitement, equities see varied prospects: neutral on overvalued US stocks, negative on Japan due to JPY risks, positive on Europe. European defence stocks gain appeal.
With the economic slowdown, quality assets will gain favour, especially sovereign bonds up to 5 years. Central banks' potential rate cuts in Q2 suggest extending duration, despite policy and inflation concerns.
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