Markets and exchange traded funds jostled late-Wednesday after the Federal Reserve referenced a December interest rate hike.
“In determining whether it will be appropriate to raise the target range at its next meeting, the Committee will assess progress–both realized and expected–toward its objectives of maximum employment and 2 percent inflation,” the Fed said in a statement after its two-day policy meeting.
Investors largely expected the Fed to stand pat on its near-zero interest rate regime, but the central bank surprised markets after overtly referencing a December hike, Reuters reports.
While the broader equities market regained its footing late-Wednesday after a short stumble, some areas were not so lucky.
For instance, Treasury bonds were retreated after the Fed announcement. The iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (NYSEArca: TLT) dipped 0.3%, PIMCO 25+ Year Zero Coupon US Treasury (NYSEArca: ZROZ) was down 0.1% and Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury ETF (NYSEArca: EDV) was 0.1% lower on Wednesday.
Other yield-generating assets also weakened, including real estate investment trusts. On Wednesday, the Vanguard REIT ETF (NYSEArca: VNQ) fell 0.7%, SPDR Dow Jones REIT ETF (NYSEArca: RWR) declined 0.9% and iShares Dow Jones US Real Estate Index Fund (NYSEArca: IYR) dropped 0.4%.
Dividend-paying utilities were also the worst performing sector after the Fed’s announcement. The Utilities Select Sector SPDR (NYSEArca: XLU) retreated 1.9%, Vanguard Utilities ETF (NYSEArca: VPU) declined 1.6% and iShares U.S. Utilities ETF (NYSEArca: IDU) fell 1.7%.
The emerging markets, which have been under pressure from a U.S. rising rate outlook, also dropped into the red after the Fed. The Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEArca: VWO) and the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEArca: EEM) both decreased 1.6%.
On the other hand, the U.S. dollar benefited from the Fed outlook. The PowerShares DB U.S. Dollar Index Bullish Fund (NYSEArca: UUP) rose 0.8% and the actively managed WisdomTree Bloomberg U.S. Dollar Bullish Fund (NYSEArca: USDU) gained 0.6%.
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Full disclosure: Tom Lydon’s clients own shares of XLU.
Max Chen contributed to this article.