Hizbullah Shoukat

The longstanding image of U.S. government bonds as an unshakable cornerstone in investment portfolios is under strain due to recent market developments. The Federal Reserve’s assertive tightening policies, combined with significant government bond issuances to cover expanding deficits, have resulted in unprecedented declines in long-term Treasuries. This shift was further emphasized when Fed Chairman Jerome […]

Higher interest rates are poised to pose a significant challenge to the high-grade investment-grade bond market, particularly those sensitive to interest rate changes. Looking at the Bloomberg U.S. Bond Index (AGG), which encompasses investment-grade corporate bonds and treasuries, it’s evident that the past year was far from smooth sailing. The most substantial drawdown the index

Simple Moving Averages (SMA) are common tools for traders and market analysts when it comes to gauging long-term market trends. In light of recent market turbulence, the S&P 500 has been approaching its 200-Day Moving Average, a level often regarded as a support point. Remarkably, the index has remained above this threshold for an impressive

2022 served as a stark reminder of the challenges inherent in traditional fixed-income investments. The dramatic double-digit declines experienced by treasuries and investment-grade bonds raised concerns, particularly for those who consider these assets as reliable safe-havens. This left investors with few options because while viable alternatives like private debt have long been available, access to

The Federal Reserve made headlines this week with its decision to keep interest rates steady, hinting at the possibility of one more rate hike later this year. It was a slightly more hawkish stance than what the market had expected, especially in the context of the “high-for-longer” narrative. The idea of “higher-for-longer” interest rates raises