The NDR Fixed Income Allocation Strategy entered the month with aggressive positioning. Both Emerging Markets and U.S. High Yield received large overweight allocations. All of U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities’ (TIPS) macro, fundamental, technical, or behavioral indicators were bullish at the start of the month.

Click the link below to read more about the strategy’s positioning.

Full strategy commentary: NDRFIAS202105051

Other posts

Thoughts From the Divide: Pandora’s Box

BY JON WEBB
While the Whitehouse may have successfully avoided putting its foot in its mouth on inflation this year (We hope everyone stateside had a good Independence day), the topic remains at top of mind for more than just the bean counters, as policymakers and consumers alike grapple with a new version of Whitney Houston’s question, “How will I know if inflation is over?”. The last few weeks haven’t offered very clear guidance. CPI was cooler than expected, but PPI was above expectations. Both the ISM Manufacturing and Services reports saw strong price readings, but there were other signs of a retreat in demand. Read more →

Thoughts From The Divide: The Right Time to Strike

BY JON WEBB
The saying is that one should wait until you see the whites of the enemy’s eyes before firing, but are there times when it’s worth waiting until you feel their breath? Case in point, the “whites” (losses) are certainly visible now in real estate debt, as we’ve highlighted in these pages, with the obvious consequences for owners of real estate debt. The latest data from the FDIC served to further highlight the obvious, warning that there are “63 ‘problem banks’ and $517 billion in unrealized losses” courtesy of higher rates hurting bank holdings of fixed income. Read more →

Thoughts From The Divide: Adjustments

BY JON WEBB
Last week’s excitement in bond markets came courtesy of Governor Waller offering a mechanical rationale for rate cuts. Simply, “If inflation goes down, you would lower the policy rate.” This came, of course, in the context of warnings about financial conditions and other caveats, but as is so often the case, what the markets heard was “so you’re telling me there’s a chance?”. That doesn’t mean that we disagree with the market’s read of where the Fed’s head is. Fed Governors don’t make too many boo-boos with their messaging, and when they do, it’s often an error of timing rather than content. The market has now priced cuts down to “around 4% by the end of 2024” and while that seems perhaps overdoing the enthusiasm a tad, we suspect that the market has gotten the gist about right.  Read more →
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