By Jamie Mullen and Eric Kazatsky, Clark Capital Management Group
If Jerome Powell and the Fed took a more dovish position in the first quarter of 2019, then the June 2019 meeting signaled the return of “lower for longer” in terms of U.S. interest rates. While the line was held on key interest rate levels in the June meeting, most notable was the Fed dropping the word “patient” in its approach to policy, which in essence, propped the door wide open for the possibility of additional rate cuts for the duration of 2019 and into next year.
In fact, some market participants had viewed the word “patient” as having a bias towards rate hikes in the past. While the market appears to be pricing in four rates cuts over the next 12 months, the views from our Chief Investment Officer Sean Clark state that this may be a bit overzealous. Instead, we believe the odds are better for one or two cuts over the coming months, which are somewhat in line with where Fed officials’ opinions have fallen in the latest dot plot projections.
Regardless of the amount of rate cuts, the Fed’s softened language and a renewed pledge to keep the economic expansion train running have given the market a sense of comfort that a reversal in the direction of rates is of little concern at the moment. To give this most recent interest rate cycle some context, 10-Year U.S. Treasury rates are 70 basis points lower than January 1, 2019 and are on the cusp of dropping below 2% for the first time since 2016.
But the Fed is not the only factor weighing on the markets, as both domestic and international pressures have factored into investor sentiment. Since the last Fed meeting, the President has renewed his long running trade war with China, threatened tariffs on Mexico, and placed additional trade pressure on Europe and Japan.
Further, certain portions of the yield curve have actually inverted, meaning longer-term rates are lower than shorter-term options. Historically, when the U.S. Treasury yield curve has inverted, it has been a signal that the economy is slowing or that a recession may be on the horizon. The argument can be made that the Fed is going to act well in advance of any material slowdown with a view on keeping the expansion in place.
Maybe We’re Just Too Demanding…Thinking That Rates Won’t Remain Here so Low…
While the market has priced in their anticipated rate cuts, there still seems to be some slight divergence from those actually making the decisions. Based on the positioning of the latest Fed dot plot, eight members see the target federal funds rate in the range of 2.25%-2.50% at the end of 2019; one member see a target range of 2.50%-2.75%, which would indicate one rate hike; and the additional members see a target range of 1.75-2.25%, which would indicate slight easing.
The consensus forecast remains in place into 2021 and 2022, demonstrating the central bank’s view that the market may be getting ahead of itself in anticipation. The fact of the matter is that despite what the rates markets actually do, our role as Portfolio Managers is to navigate the current interest rate environment while keeping income high and focusing on principal preservation.
This is What it Sounds Like…When Rates Cry…
Interest rate environments like the one we’re in today make a case for active management as we look to keep the current yield of the portfolio at above market level and focus on relative value opportunities that present themselves in both credit and duration management.
Our portfolios on both the taxable and tax-exempt side continue to utilize a barbell approach, which may provide investors with the best defense should the Fed decide to sharply reverse course at any stage along the way.
While duration was one component of positive return in Q2, the other part of the success story was credit selection. Credit selection and continued negative screening within the portfolios continue to be a differentiating factor as spreads within investment grade corporates and municipal bonds continue to tighten.
In the taxable portfolio, we remain focused on sectors that are less sensitive to interest rate volatility, while on the tax-free side, we remain committed to finding additional value in revenue sectors such as healthcare and higher education.
This article was written by Jamie Mullen, Senior Portfolio Manager, and Eric Kazatsky, Portfolio Manger, at Clark Capital Management Group, a participant in the ETF Strategist Channel.
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