Why is it a good time to invest in fixed-income?
In current market circ*mstances, with higher bond yields, fixed income investments have become an attractive asset class again from a risk-return perspective. Apart from the attractive yield, bonds also offer resilience for adverse market developments in risk assets like equities.
Investing in fixed-income allocations adds stability and a regular return to a portfolio. Bonds are much less volatile than equities, so you won't see some of the wild price fluctuations you see with growth equities.
While interest rate sensitivity may have pinched fixed income investors in 2021 and 2022 as inflation soared, fixed income is poised to earn healthy total returns this year. In general, prices rise as yields fall in fixed income.
“Yields are still attractive.” What's key for investors to remember is that “lower” is all relative. Bond market strategists and fund managers generally agree that yields are still attractive, especially relative to inflation, and will likely stay higher than before the pandemic.
Weekly fixed income update highlights
Total returns were negative for Treasuries and most spread sectors. Investment grade corporates, MBS, preferreds and emerging markets all outperformed. Municipal bond yields increased. New issue supply was $6B and fund inflows were $80M.
Fixed-income investments don't have the highest potential for return, but their lower risk is an advantage. For money you'll need within a few years, the best fixed-income investments can help you build your cash reserves while keeping it relatively safe.
Why invest in fixed income? Whether your goal is to diversify your investments, save for the future, receive dependable income, preserve principal, or help minimize taxes, fixed income investments could be a way to reach your goals.
Interest rates tend to begin to decline three months ahead of recessions and reach a cycle low about five months into recessions. During economic downturns, fixed income has been shown to provide diversification benefits and reduce the volatility of portfolios that include risk assets such as equities.
It's a new era for fixed income. An unprecedented tightening cycle has given rise to unprecedented opportunities. While the last few years have been challenging, interest rate hikes were the controlled burn needed to rejuvenate the fixed income landscape.
Investments that can be appropriate include bank CDs or short-term bond funds. If your investing timeline is longer, and you're willing to take more risk in order to potentially earn higher yields, you might consider longer-term Treasury bonds or investment-grade corporate or municipal bonds.
Are bond funds a good investment in 2024?
Vanguard's active fixed income team believes emerging markets (EM) bonds could outperform much of the rest of the fixed income market in 2024 because of the likelihood of declining global interest rates, the current yield premium over U.S. investment-grade bonds, and a longer duration profile than U.S. high yield.
- iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (AGG)
- Vanguard Total World Bond ETF (BNDW)
- Vanguard Core-Plus Bond ETF (VPLS)
- DoubleLine Commercial Real Estate ETF (DCRE)
- Global X 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF (CLIP)
- SPDR Portfolio Corporate Bond ETF (SPBO)
- JPMorgan Ultra-Short Income ETF (JPST)
- iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (IEF)
Investing in bonds when interest rates have peaked can yield higher returns. However, rising interest rates reward bond investors who reinvest their principal over time. It's hard to time the bond market. If your goal for investing in bonds is to reduce portfolio risk and volatility, it's best not to wait.
Fixed income risks occur due to the unpredictability of the market. Risks can impact the market value and cash flows from the security. The major risks include interest rate, reinvestment, call/prepayment, credit, inflation, liquidity, exchange rate, volatility, political, event, and sector risks.
What causes bond prices to fall? Bond prices move in inverse fashion to interest rates, reflecting an important bond investing consideration known as interest rate risk. If bond yields decline, the value of bonds already on the market move higher. If bond yields rise, existing bonds lose value.
Reducing your cost of living can be one of the most strategic money moves when you're on a fixed income. This might look like staying in your area but moving to a home with a lower cost to maintain, like trading in the big house with high utility bills or property taxes for a more affordable, lower-maintenance home.
Equity markets offer higher expected returns than fixed-income markets, but they also carry higher risk. Equity market investors are typically more interested in capital appreciation and pursue more aggressive strategies than fixed-income market investors.
Fixed-income securities usually have low price volatility risk. Some fixed-income securities are guaranteed by the government providing a safer return for investors. Cons: Fixed-income securities have credit risk, so the issuer could possibly default on making the interest payments or paying back the principal.
Money market funds. Short-term certificates of deposit. Series I savings bonds. Treasury bills, notes, bonds and TIPS.
Buy a Rental Property
Investing in rental properties can be an excellent source of passive income. Even during a recession, people still need a place to live. By purchasing residential or commercial properties and renting them out, you can generate a steady stream of income.
What is the outlook for fixed income in 2024?
Starting yields, potential rate cuts and a return to contrasting performance for stocks and bonds could mean an attractive environment for fixed income in 2024.
Government securities — which include bonds, notes and T-bills — have long been considered some of the safest, lowest-risk investments around, but today, they also have fairly high returns.
- High-yield savings accounts. Overview: A high-yield online savings account pays you interest on your cash balance. ...
- Long-term certificates of deposit. ...
- Long-term corporate bond funds. ...
- Dividend stock funds. ...
- Value stock funds. ...
- Small-cap stock funds. ...
- REIT index funds.
| Rank | Fund | Yield |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vanguard High-Yield Corporate Fund Investor Shares (VWEHX) | 6.40% |
| 2 | T. Rowe Price High Yield Fund (PRHYX) | 7.02% |
| 3 | PGIM High Yield Fund Class A (PBHAX) | 7.22% |
| 4 | Fidelity Capital & Income Fund (fa*gIX) | 6.16% |
The share prices of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that invest in bonds typically go lower when interest rates rise. When market interest rates rise, the fixed rate paid by existing bonds becomes less attractive, sinking these bonds' prices.
