Investment Insights: Bond yields and the Mideast conflict

Bonds are a core part of most investor toolkits. They come in different shapes and sizes, but have historically offered two strong propositions:

This is not the recent experience. With the sudden rise in interest rates and surprisingly strong employment numbers, we’ve seen a big move up in global bond yields. This has left many investors with bond allocations in the red again for 2023, following declines in 2022.

The narrative gets more confused in the wake of the attack on Israel and Israel’s response. It’s not unthinkable that an adviser or client may wonder whether we can still count on Government bonds as a safe haven in times of geopolitical crisis. (By “safe haven” we mean that in particular U.S. Government bonds are one of the few asset classes investors turn to broad market selloffs.)

So, do bonds still deserve a place in a portfolio? Should investors maintain their long-standing rationale for mixing bonds and stocks together? And what can we expect from bonds, given the tragic developments in the Middle East? While it may be difficult to swallow, there are reasons for optimism for the future of fixed-income returns.

Are bonds a safe haven in the midst of the recent conflict in the Middle East?

Given the sudden and continuing tragic situation in Israel and Gaza, let’s tackle the “safe haven” status first. In recent months, the safe haven status of U.S. Government bonds has been a topic of debate. With concerns about the U.S. government’s huge deficits and the Fed’s higher-for-longer narrative (which could mean the U.S. needs to pay more to cover its debt payments) some have speculated on whether U.S. Government bonds’ safe haven status is intact.

We believe it depends on the risk in question. If equities or credit decline because of concerns surrounding interest rates, then Government bonds may not provide the ballast investors would like. That’s indeed what we saw in 2022.

However, in the case of geopolitical conflict, the focus is on risk aversion generally. In this case, relative safety in an unstable world matters most, so we expect Government bonds to act as a store of value, particularly in the U.S. but also in highly rated countries like Australia.

The trouble comes from the confluence of events, as these geopolitical risks occur at the same time as rate rises. In those instances, our preference is for the shorter end of the yield curve. This generally means Government bonds with a maturity date of less than five years, which have yields in excess of 5%, in the U.S. with the backing of the U.S. government and limited interest rate risk.

Do we still think bonds are a good investment? 

Looking forward, our outlook for fixed-income returns remains optimistic. Yields are resetting at higher levels, while prices are declining, creating attractive opportunities in fixed income from a valuation perspective.

Particularly, areas like short-term Government bonds, boasting yields of 5% or higher in the U.S., present an opportunity for investors to bolster their portfolios with substantial income without exposing themselves to excessive duration risk (a measure of interest rate risk).

Conversely, in the U.S. the longer-term debt market faces persistent pressure due to expectations of prolonged Federal Reserve policy and the enduring strength of the economy. With the sell-off in long-term global Government bonds, we are cautiously optimistic about the better prospects for higher returns and income, though we still advise investors to carefully consider their overall exposure to duration.

Why are Treasury yields still rising?

Reflecting on the beginning of the year, the financial landscape and consensus projections unanimously painted an optimistic picture on inflation moderating, coupled with a pessimistic view of developed economies in the process of slowing down due to the assertive measures taken by the central banks. Subsequently, we have witnessed a rollercoaster of developments that have notably yielded a remarkably resilient U.S. economy, seemingly impervious to the policy manoeuvres of the Fed. Furthermore, certain aspects of the global economy suggest that attaining the central banks’ inflation targets may require more time than initially envisaged.

First and foremost, labour markets in Australia and the US remain the driving force behind a stronger consumer than expected, despite a significant increase in interest rates over the past 18 months. A lower-than-average supply of workers, coupled with persistent demand for goods and but particularly services, has maintained hiring at a pace that surpasses typical expectations in a rising interest rate environment. In the US, fiscal policy, characterised by increased spending and widening budget deficits, is acting as a stimulant for the economy, contrary to the Fed’s objectives in its battle against inflation.

Are central banks’ “higher for longer” messages the main catalyst?

Taken together, this backdrop has fostered the notion that interest rates will remain elevated for an extended duration. Consequently, long-term bond yields have surged significantly within just a few months, as markets brace themselves for this scenario—an outcome that was not accounted for just half a year ago. As long as the labour market retains its resilience in the face of monetary policy actions, fiscal policy remains accommodative, and overall demand remains on a steady course, the Federal Reserve and the RBA lack a compelling motive to shift away from its hawkish stance. An untimely shift toward a more accommodating position poses the risk of inflation rekindling, reminiscent of the Volcker era in the 1980s.

To reiterate, the concept of enduring higher interest rates was not factored into market forecasts earlier this year. Now, we are witnessing markets adapt to this new reality in real-time, as it becomes evident that the economies have so far been more resilient than anticipated.

Any new risks we need to think about? What are the consequences of higher rates?

As financial markets continue to absorb the implications of prolonged elevated interest rates, the practical consequences in the medium term may face challenges. In the U.S. we are witnessing the impact on the housing market, where we observe declining prices and subdued demand while in Australia the housing market has bounced back from steep losses. Furthermore, consumers who had previously been buoyed by stimulus measures during the Covid era have now depleted their surplus savings, which had been a driving force behind the remarkable demand surge in 2020 and 2021. With diminished savings and higher interest rates affecting credit cards and loans, as well as increased prices for everyday essentials, the risk of reduced consumption looms large.

If demand erosion becomes widespread, it could jeopardise the revenue and cash flows of companies across the board. This, in turn, could lead to a reversal in hiring trends or even sustained job cuts across various sectors of the economy. These same businesses are also susceptible to higher debt costs when they need to refinance or raise capital. Many of these companies have outstanding low fixed-rate debt issued during 2020 and 2021. However, if the central banks maintain their commitment to prolonged higher rates, companies will be compelled to refinance in a substantially higher interest rate environment, adding pressure to their ability to manage their debt.

What’s the likely impact on the economy?

In summary, elevated interest rates have a tightening effect on the overall economy. Some repercussions manifest suddenly, as seen in the housing market, while others have a delayed impact and take time to materialise, such as in labour markets. There is reason to believe that the RBA and Federal Reserve may stick to a higher-for-longer policy, and history suggests that recessions (hard landings) occur more frequently than smooth economic transitions (soft landings). However, predicting when or if such an event will occur remains challenging. Therefore, it is advisable to construct investment portfolios with a range of potential outcomes in mind, avoiding undue bias towards a single scenario.

Do Government bonds still offer the same diversification?

As a core holding among many investors, owning longer-term Government bonds usually offers a twofold benefit:

While we acknowledge the possibility of continued economic resilience, the potential for a conventional downturn should not be discounted. In such a scenario, long-term bond exposure could still offer a hedge against riskier segments of your investment portfolio. Nevertheless, it’s important to note that during this cycle, the diversification benefits of long-term Government bonds have been less pronounced, primarily due to a higher inflation environment. If inflation proves to be more persistent than anticipated, the traditional negative correlation between long-term Government bonds and equities may not be as robust.

Does the “inverted yield curve” mean anything in today’s context?

The current shape of the US yield curve could pose a challenge for long-term Government bonds potentially mitigating equity risk. Our studies have demonstrated that in instances of an inverted yield curve, long-term Government bonds have shown diminished ability to shield against declines in equity markets. Conversely, in situations where the curve steepens (with long-term interest rates surpassing short-term rates), long-term debt has exhibited the ability to garner substantial returns amid periods of declining equity markets.

What do we think of corporate bonds in this environment?

While corporate bonds still have a place, we find credit to be relatively overpriced. Whether examining investment-grade or high-yield debt, we are unable to justify an overweight position at present. The spreads investors receive for holding this debt are currently at or slightly below long-term averages. In other words, taking on risky debt like high-yield bonds offers limited yield advantages relative to risk-free alternatives. Additionally, given the heightened likelihood of a recession, relatively speaking, we are uncomfortable with current valuations.  

Final thoughts

In the near term, further volatility is possible, so managing risk is important. But Government bonds offer positive forward-looking prospects after inflation, and we continue to see merit in these holdings.

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