FICC

High-Yield municipal bonds have performed well in recent years, but valuations are now stretched. We recommend an underweight allocation, though we prefer high-yield munis over high-yield corporate bonds.

Some thoughts on this morning’s inflation number and implications for Treasury yields and TIPS.

The downgrade of the US credit rating highlights the risk of fiscal dominance overriding the Fed’s long-standing monetary dominance focused on its dual mandate. This threatens to push inflation and long-term interest rates higher. It also will redound to the detriment of the USD, and governments’ and investors’ willingness to hold it. China’s liquidity trap will keep its inflation subdued in the short run, but not forever. We remain long gold as a hedge against fiscal dominance and USD debasement risks.

Time is running out on the Bank of England’s tightening cycle. UK economic growth is flirting with recession, unemployment is rising, house prices are contracting and inflation is decelerating. Markets are overestimating the eventual bottom in UK inflation, and thus are also underestimating how much the Bank of England will eventually cut rates in the next easing cycle, which could begin as soon as H1/2024. The backdrop is turning increasingly positive for Gilts on a medium-term basis, while the overbought pound is due for a breather.

Our Portfolio Allocation Summary for August 2023.

Some thoughts on this week’s bear-steepening of the Treasury curve and this morning’s employment report.

In this insight, we assess the prospect of the Swiss franc over the next six months.

Special Report

The odds of Russia cutting oil output will rise going into 4Q23, as Ukraine’s endgame increases pressure on it, and it actively seeks to undermine President Biden’s re-election. We reckon a 2mm b/d cut would push Brent above $140/bbl by December 2024. This would push inflation and inflation expectations higher and raise the odds of more Fed rate hikes. BCA Commodity & Energy Strategy will remain long the COMT and XOP ETFs. At tonight’s close, we will be getting long December 2024 $100/bbl Brent calls.

The DXY will continue to have near-term upside, as economic growth holds up in the US, while it deteriorates in other parts of the world. Remain constructive on the DXY at current levels, but pivot to a short position on evidence US growth is boosting the rest of the world.

A look at recent US data on economic growth and inflation, with an update on the implications for monetary policy and bond yields.