December 2022 – Bond Market Review
Dec 16, 2022 | Monthly Review
Market volatility has intensified as financial conditions tighten and global central banks pursue monetary policies to combat persistently high inflation and maintain financial market stability. Labor markets remain strong, although the pace of job growth is moderating. Inflation is weighing on consumer sentiment and negatively impacting savings rates. Corporate earnings have generally performed better than expected, but warnings are growing along with wider credit spreads this year. While evidence of slower economic conditions has begun to mount, we expect the Federal Reserve to continue to raise rates to battle inflation, albeit perhaps at a less aggressive pace. Over the near-term, we expect financial market volatility to remain intensified and conditions tighter with persistent inflation, geopolitical risk, and the Fed's hawkish monetary policy.