Gain detailed insights into the trading activity of Congress members for IEF on our government trades page. Stay updated on how elected officials are investing in IEF.

IEF - Government Trades

iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF

The Fund seeks to track the investment results of the ICE U.S. Treasury 7-10 Year Bond Index (the Underlying Index), which measures the performance of public obligations of the U.S. Treasury that have a remaining maturity of greater than or equal to seven years and less than ten years. As of February 28, 2023, there were 14 issues in the Underlying Index.

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The Federal Reserve&#39;s final meeting of the year has historically caused significant moves in 20 ETFs. A rate cut is expected, but the focus is on the Fed&#39;s forward guidance and projections.

20 ETFs Primed For Unusually Big Swings On Fed Meeting Days

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Legendary investor Ken Fisher&#39;s hedge fund grew the value of its portfolio by more than $14 billion dollars in the last quarter.

Here&#39;s How Billionaire Ken Fisher&#39;s Hedge Fund Made $14 Billion Last Quarter

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iShares Trust Barclays 20+ Year Treasury Bond Fund






Investors often seek reasons to justify recent significant market moves, especially when these moves hint at potential volatility and risk ahead. Currently, a bearish outlook has influenced sentiment on a few

Bears Misjudged These 3 ETFs: Where Investors Can Find Upside

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Most investors fail to adopt a hybrid attitude toward the stock market. This means some place too much weight on the fundamentals regardless of price action and charts. In contrast, others swear by technical analysis

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US Treasuries steady despite volatile start to 2024, as Fed may cut rates due to falling prices. Bonds now seen as valuable in portfolio.

US Treasuries Set To Break Even After Rocky First Half Of 2024

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U.S. economy grew at 1.3% in Q1, slower than expected. Inflation may continue to decline, easing pressure on Fed to cut rates. Experts have mixed views on potential impact.

Is Q1 GDP Data Easing Pressure On Fed To Cut Interest Rates? 5 Economists Weigh In

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The Fed kept rates unchanged but announced a significant reduction in its quantitative tightening program starting in June. Redditors have diverse opinions on its effectiveness and potential impact on inflation and investment strategies.

Redditors Question Change To Fed Policy: Are They &#39;Slowing QT To Prevent A Crash&#39;?

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Powell stated on Tuesday that a prolonged period of restrictive monetary policy may be necessary, refraining from offering explicit guidance on a rate-cutting strategy.

Jerome Powell Back In Hawkish Policy Lane? Why Economists Feel Fed&#39;s &#39;Higher For Longer&#39; Narrative Hasn&#39;t Changed: &#39;Markets Need To Focus On The Fact That...&#39;

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PowerShares DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund

Barclays Bank iPath S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN

Iran launched a barrage of explosive drones and missiles towards Israel late on Saturday in its first direct attack on Israeli soil, prompting concerns of a significant escalation. Sirens blared in Israel, as reported by Reuters, and distant booming sounds were heard, likely from the interception of the drones.

3 Safe-Haven ETFs to Gain on Middle East Crisis

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U.S. Treasury yields at highest since mid-November 2023 due to economic resilience, fiscal spending, and inflation pressures, impacting government debt costs and bond ETFs.

Bond Yields Surge To 6-Month Highs As Likelihood Of No-Landing Scenario Increases: UBS Warns Of Potential Fed Rate Hikes To 6.5%

iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF

As markets brace for the Federal Reserve's final policy meeting of the year, scheduled at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, Goldman Sachs highlighted 20 exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that have historically shown outsized <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/federal-reserve">moves around Fed decision days</a>.
While a 25-basis-point rate cut to a target range of 4.25%-4.50% is widely anticipated, the market's focus is on the Fed's forward guidance, particularly the Summary of Economic Projections (SEP) and the updated &#8220;dot plot.&#8221;
Following December's expected cut, Goldman Sachs projects a more measured pace of easing next year, forecasting rate cuts in March, June, and September, with the terminal rate seen at 3.50%-3.75%.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/12/42554114/all-eyes-on-december-fed-meeting-as-traders-await-interest-rate-projections">All Eyes On December Fed Meeting As Traders Await Interest Rate Projections</a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Market Dynamics Around Fed Days</h3>
U.S. equity markets have displayed strong short-term gains during Fed meeting weeks in 2024. 
Investors employing a simple strategy of buying the S&amp;P 500 index at market close before a Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) announcement and selling at close the following day have captured median returns of 1.1% across the past seven meetings.
Yet those extending the trade horizon to 15 sessions post-Fed meeting have enjoyed significantly larger average gains of 3.29%, more than double the short-term returns. Notably, every Fed meeting this year has resulted in positive 15-day returns.
"We observe that U.S. banking ETFs, such as SPDR S&amp;P Bank ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KBE#NYSE">KBE</a>) and SPDR S&amp;P Regional Banking ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KRE#NYSE">KRE</a>), have seen unusually large moves on FOMC days since 2022" Goldman analysts wrote in a recent note.
For bond-focused investors, the report highlights consistent post-meeting gains in high-yield and investment-grade ETFs like iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HYG#NYSE">HYG</a>) and iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LQD#NYSE">LQD</a>).
Meanwhile, energy-focused ETFs, such as the United States Oil Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USO#NYSE">USO</a>), have seen negative reactions. 
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">ETFs Showing Heightened Fed-Day Moves</h3>
Here's Goldman Sachs' list of 20 ETFs with the largest absolute moves – which include both positive and negative swing – on FOMC days:
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>ETF Name</th>
<th>Focus</th>
<th>Average Absolute Move on FOMC since 2022</th>
<th>Average Absolute Move (Last 3 FOMC events)</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>SPDR S&amp;P Regional Banking ETF </td>
<td>Regional Banking</td>
<td>2.5%</td>
<td>1.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VanEck Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMH#NASDAQ">SMH</a>)</td>
<td>Semiconductor</td>
<td>2.4%</td>
<td>3.7%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOXX#NASDAQ">SOXX</a>)</td>
<td>Semiconductor</td>
<td>2.4%</td>
<td>3.3%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SPDR S&amp;P Bank ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KBE#NYSE">KBE</a>)</td>
<td>US Large Banks</td>
<td>2.2%</td>
<td>1.3%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SPDR S&amp;P Biotech ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XBI#NYSE">XBI</a>)</td>
<td>Biotech</td>
<td>2.0%</td>
<td>0.3%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>United States Oil Fund </td>
<td>Oil</td>
<td>1.9%</td>
<td>2.0%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLK#NYSE">XLK</a>)</td>
<td>Technology</td>
<td>1.9%</td>
<td>2.3%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>iShares Silver Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLV#NYSE">SLV</a>)</td>
<td>Silver</td>
<td>1.7%</td>
<td>2.4%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>)</td>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>1.7%</td>
<td>1.7%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLY#NYSE">XLY</a>)</td>
<td>Discretionary</td>
<td>1.6%</td>
<td>1.0%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>)</td>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>1.5%</td>
<td>0.3%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>)</td>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>1.2%</td>
<td>0.9%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOO#NYSE">VOO</a>)</td>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>1.2%</td>
<td>0.9%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLF#NYSE">XLF</a>)</td>
<td>Financial</td>
<td>1.1%</td>
<td>0.7%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SPDR Gold Shares (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLD#NYSE">GLD</a>)</td>
<td>Gold</td>
<td>0.9%</td>
<td>1.4%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>iShares J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EMB#NASDAQ">EMB</a>)</td>
<td>EM Bond</td>
<td>0.8%</td>
<td>0.6%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF </td>
<td>HY Corp Bond</td>
<td>0.6%</td>
<td>0.3%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF </td>
<td>IG Corp Bond</td>
<td>0.6%</td>
<td>0.7%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IEF#NASDAQ">IEF</a>)</td>
<td>7-10 Year Treasury</td>
<td>0.6%</td>
<td>0.7%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>iShares TIPS Bond ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TIP#NYSE">TIP</a>)</td>
<td>TIPS Bond</td>
<td>0.5%</td>
<td>0.4%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Average</td>
<td></td>
<td>1.5%</td>
<td>1.3%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Check Out: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/12/42539116/fed-meetings-made-stock-traders-richer-in-2024-could-wednesday-bring-last-big-rally">Fed Meetings Made Stock Traders Richer In 2024: Could Wednesday Bring Last Big Rally?</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

Legendary investor Ken Fisher's hedge fund, Fisher Asset Management, grew the value of its portfolio by more than $14 billion dollars <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/09/41030896/why-ken-fisher-says-capital-preservation-could-cost-you-big-in-retirement">in the last quarter</a>.
Here's a look at the fund's most significant trades.  
Top Holdings: Fisher Asset Management reported approximately $244 billion in assets under management (AUM), according to an SEC<a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/850529/000085052924000012/xslForm13F_X02/primary_doc.xml"> filing</a>. 
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/24/11/41949068/bitcoin-could-reach-1-million-by-2037-economist-says-buy-of-a-lifetime-opportunity">Bitcoin Could Reach $1 Million By 2037, Economist Says: &#8216;Buy Of A Lifetime&#8217; Opportunity</a>
The firm also added small amounts to each of its top five positions: 
<ul>
<li>Apple, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>)</li>
<li>Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>)</li>
<li>NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>)</li>
<li>Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) and </li>
<li>Alphabet, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>). </li>
</ul>
Top Buys: Fisher Asset Management's top buy in terms of value was $2.09 billion in shares of the iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IEF#NASDAQ">IEF</a>) which provides targeted exposure to U.S. Treasury bonds with remaining maturities between seven and ten years. Treasury bonds are generally considered low-risk investments, which can help balance riskier assets in a diversified portfolio. 
The fund's second and third-largest buys were $850 million in shares of JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>) and $490 million worth of shares of oil and natural gas producer ConocoPhillips (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COP#NYSE">COP</a>). 
Top Sells: The hedge fund's top sells by value were $1.35 billion in shares of the iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LQD#NYSE">LQD</a>), $750 million worth of Walt Disney Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIS#NYSE">DIS</a>) shares and $710 million in shares of Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>). 
New Holdings: One of the fund's most notable new holdings is Nu Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NU#NYSE">NU</a>), a digital banking services provider also backed by Warren Buffett. Fisher Asset management opened a position in Nu Holdings with approximately 7.23 million shares valued at more than $98.7 million.&nbsp;
The hedge fund also took a $28.3 million new position in wealth manager UBS Group AG (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UBS#NYSE">UBS</a>) and opened a $17.2 million position in the iShares MSCI China A ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CNYA#BATS">CNYA</a>), which tracks an index composed of Chinese equities available to international investors.
Why It Matters: Hedge funds often use sophisticated investment strategies and have access to extensive research which can provide insights into emerging market trends. Individual investors can track hedge funds for investment ideas, successful strategies or compare their own performance against professional investors.&nbsp;
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</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

Here's How Billionaire Ken Fisher's Hedge Fund Made $14 Billion Last Quarter

U.S. Treasuries are poised to come in even despite having a very volatile <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/treasuries">first six months of 2024</a>.
A Bloomberg index of returns in this bond market has declined a mere 0.1% for the year. It fell as much as 3.4% in April.
The rebound indicates that investor outlook might be positive in light of falling U.S. prices prompting the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates sooner. 
"We've seen the peak in yields," Stephen Miller, investment strategist at GSFM in Sydney, told <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-06-19/treasuries-a-whisker-away-from-erasing-2024-losses-on-rates-bets?srnd=homepage-americas&amp;sref=TBDibEcD">Bloomberg</a>. "Bonds are now back as having a deserved place in a multi-asset portfolio."
Treasuries have been sent in opposite directions in 2024 as policy-sensitive two-year yields have soared above 5% in April as fears over higher-for-longer U.S. rates spurred investors to dump bonds.
Also Read: <a href="http://Tokenized US Treasury Notes Market Value Exceeds $1B: Report">Tokenized US Treasury Notes Market Value Exceeds $1B &#8211; Report</a>
They have since returned to around 4.7% as inflation-to-retail-sales data suggested the U.S. economy may finally be cooling enough to justify lower borrowing costs.
Fed Governor Adriana Kugler <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/top-stories/24/06/39391685/fed-members-cool-on-raising-interest-rates-these-conditions-could-take-months-and-more-likely-quarte">said on Tuesday </a>that it will likely be appropriate for the central bank to reduce rates "sometime later this year" if economic conditions unfold as anticipated. 
St. Louis Fed President Alberto Musalem said in his first major policy speech that it could take "quarters" for the data to support a cut.
Volatility in the $27 trillion Treasury market has fallen from recent highs as the views of the Fed and investors over the number of rate cuts expected this year have begun to gel. 
The ICE BofA&nbsp;MOVE&nbsp;Index — a gauge of bond volatility that tracks anticipated swings in US yields based on options — is hovering at about 98, down from an April high of 121, Bloomberg reported.
Price Action: SPDR Bloomberg 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BIL#NYSE">BIL</a>) remained flat before Thursday&#8217;s opening bell, while iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IEF#NASDAQ">IEF</a>) declined 0.4%; iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TLT#NASDAQ">TLT</a>) fell 1% in pre-market trading on Thursday.
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The U.S. economy grew at an annualized rate of 1.3% in the first quarter of 2024, marking a downward revision from the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/05/39085465/us-q1-economic-growth-downwardly-revised-to-1-3-consumer-spending-falters">advance estimate of 1.6%. </a>
This represents the slowest growth rate since the second quarter of 2022. The revision was primarily driven by a decrease in real consumer spending, which was adjusted down from 2.5% to 2%.
The GDP report from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, released Thursday, also indicated a slight downward adjustment of 0.1 percentage points in both the headline and core Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) price index for the last quarter.
The slower-than-expected growth and marginally lower inflation figures eased Treasury yields, with the 10-year benchmark note falling 5 basis points to 4.57%. This drop sent bond ETFs higher, with the iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IEF#NASDAQ">IEF</a>) rising 0.4%.
The critical question remains whether these developments will ease the pressure on the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates, or if further inflation reports are needed to gain a more comprehensive understanding of economic dynamics.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">5 Economists React To Q1 GDP, PCE Data</h3>
<ol>
<li>Chris Zaccarelli: The chief investment officer at Independent Advisory Alliance views the recent economic data as &#8220;a double-edged sword.&#8221; Slowing personal consumption signals that economic expansion is cooling. This could concern companies and stock market investors. But it also suggests that inflation is declining. This could eventually allow the Fed to reduce interest rates. Inflation will likely remain &#8220;relatively sticky&#8221; and the Fed will stay on the sidelines for most of 2024. Still, Zaccarelli remains optimistic about corporate profits and an ongoing bull market for stocks. </li>
<li>Jeffrey Roach: The chief economist at LPL Financial notes how consumer spending was weaker than initially reported, reducing the headline growth to 1.3% annualized. He highlighted that consumer momentum is slowing due to persistent inflation pressures. However, he sees a positive aspect in business investment, particularly in new technologies like artificial intelligence. </li>
<li>Bill Adams, chief economist at Comerica Bank, emphasizes that the Fed's tight interest rate policy is &#8220;clearly visible&#8221; in the first quarter GDP report. The significant decline in interest-rate sensitive multifamily residential investments highlights the broader economic impact. Adams also notes that a less accommodative fiscal policy has contributed to the pullback in durable goods spending. Revisions to economic growth and inflation might prompt the Fed to consider reducing interest rates by September. Adams also highlights that a cooler economy is limiting businesses&#8217; ability to raise prices, which could help slow inflation in the second half of 2024. </li>
<li>Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at CFRA Research, views the slower Q1 GDP growth as somewhat encouraging but cautions that these data are subject to further revisions. Stovall anticipates that the Fed might start cutting rates as early as September, though he is less confident about this timeline compared to earlier predictions. &#8220;We had been saying for a while that we thought we&#8217;d get 2 cuts this year, September and December. But I would tend to say that we are becoming less confident about the start in September,&#8221; he said. He believes that once the Fed begins cutting rates, it could benefit stocks, particularly in interest-sensitive sectors like financials and real estate. </li>
<li>Diane Swonk: &#8220;The largest downward revision was consumer spending. This echoes challenges retailers cite,&#8221; KPMG US chief economist wrote on X. &#8220;Big ticket durable goods, which require financing, contract the most.&#8221; She observes that credit card usage has flatlined, with subprime and young borrowers hitting their limits. Swonk highlights an increase in business investment, driven by spending on chip plants, despite a slowdown in government spending.</li>
</ol>
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">An acceleration in spending on services, where inflation remains hottest, was tempered by a &#x2b07;&#xFE0F; in spending on goods. This echos challenges retailers cite. Big ticket durable goods, which require financing, contracts the most. Credit card usage flatline, as subprime &amp; young…
&mdash; Diane Swonk (@DianeSwonk) <a href="https://twitter.com/DianeSwonk/status/1796174231937417593?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 30, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Swonk suggests that inflation improvements in late 2023 were overstated and that inflation remains a significant issue. &#8220;The net result is that inflation is still too hot for too many, which is keeping the Federal Reserve from cutting rates.&#8221;
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The Federal Reserve&#8217;s recent policy decision kept interest rates unchanged, continuing since July 2023. However, it announced a significant reduction in its quantitative tightening (QT) program, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/federal-reserve">starting in June</a>. 
QT involves selling off assets to decrease money supply and raise interest rates. This move follows massive bond purchases during the pandemic, which suppressed interest rates. While QT can help control inflation, it also reduces liquidity in the economy and can lead to higher interest rates and tighter monetary conditions. 
The Fed aims to avoid a repeat of the 2019 &#8220;repo crisis&#8221; caused by QT, and plans to scale back QT to $25 billion, more than half of its current rate.
Related: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/05/38584705/federal-reserve-takes-cautious-stand-on-inflation-powell-signals-preference-for-r">Federal Reserve Takes Cautious Stand On Inflation, Powell Signals Preference For Rate Cuts Over Hikes</a>
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Redditors Question the Effectiveness of Fed&#8217;s Decision</h1>
Reddit discussions on r/stocks provided valuable insights into the Federal Reserve&#8217;s recent decision to reduce quantitative tightening (QT) and its potential impact on inflation and the economy. 
Redditors expressed diverse opinions, ranging from concerns about inflation to the Fed&#8217;s motives and the broader economic implications.
Redditors like jigglyjohnson13 questioned the effectiveness of the Fed&#8217;s decision, citing concerns about inflation and the M2 money supply. They suggested that the Fed may be influenced by the theory that COVID-19 relief caused an explosion in M2, making it challenging to bring inflation down.
Others, such as 95Daphne and goodbodha, believe that the Fed&#8217;s decision is driven by the need to maintain stability in the banking system. They argue that the Fed is trying to prevent a financial accident, similar to what happened in the past, and ensure that banks have sufficient reserves.
Some, like Malamonga1 and Invest0rnoob1, see the Fed&#8217;s decision as a means to stimulate the economy. They suggest that while the decision may not directly address inflation, it could prevent a crash and support banks facing challenges.
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">&#8220;I think the economy is doing worse than they are admitting. It's mostly being propped up by government spending. They are slowing QT to prevent a crash.&#8221;
<cite>Redditor <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/stocks/comments/1chwj1e/comment/l25cvuh/?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=web3x&amp;utm_name=web3xcss&amp;utm_term=1&amp;utm_content=share_button">Invest0rnoob1</a></cite></blockquote>
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Impact On Investment Strategies</h1>
Redditors like fairlyaveragetrader believe the Fed&#8217;s decision could impact investment strategies. They suggest the decision could make long-term bonds more attractive and lead to lower rates over the next 18 months, affecting stock investments and overall market outlook.
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">&#8220;Inflation is really only being pushed by two things, housing and auto insurance and neither of those are responsive to QT. What the Fed did today is tell you to buy bonds. The fact they are slowing down the selling is going to make the long end more attractive. Rates overall, over the next 18 months, likely to fall.&#8221;
<cite>Redditor <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/stocks/comments/1chwj1e/comment/l25wz4a/?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=web3x&amp;utm_name=web3xcss&amp;utm_term=1&amp;utm_content=share_button">fairlyaveragetrader</a></cite></blockquote>
ETFs such as the iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TLT#NASDAQ">TLT</a>), the Vanguard Long-Term Treasury ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VGLT#NASDAQ">VGLT</a>), and the SPDR Portfolio Long Term Treasury ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPTL#NYSE">SPTL</a>) provide exposure to long-term Treasury bonds. The iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IEF#NASDAQ">IEF</a>) is a popular way to get exposure to medium-to-long-term Treasury bonds.
The diverse opinions expressed by Redditors highlight the complexity of the Federal Reserve&#8217;s decision-making process and its potential impact on various aspects of the economy. 
Investors should consider these perspectives when analyzing the implications of the Fed&#8217;s decision on their investment strategies.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/05/38593416/wall-street-inches-up-post-fed-chipmakers-rebound-gold-crude-falter-whats-driving-market-thursday">Wall Street Inches Up After Powell&#8217;s Inflation Remarks; Chipmakers Rebound; Gold, Crude Falter: What&#8217;s Driving Markets Thursday?</a>
Illustration created using artificial intelligence via MidJourney.

Redditors Question Change To Fed Policy: Are They 'Slowing QT To Prevent A Crash'?

Federal Reserve&nbsp;Chair&nbsp;Jerome Powell&nbsp;stated on Tuesday that a prolonged period of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/broad-u-s-equity-etfs/24/04/38278182/powell-delays-fed-rate-cuts-we-need-greater-confidence-in-inflation-2-year-yields-spik" rel="noreferrer noopener">restrictive monetary policy</a>&nbsp;may be necessary, refraining from offering explicit guidance on a rate-cutting strategy. Economists interpreted this as a clear indication that the central bank is likely to maintain a &#8220;higher for longer&#8221; approach.
The Hawkish Schiff: Economist&nbsp;Peter Schiff, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), challenged Powell&#8217;s characterization of the current monetary policy as restrictive, asserting that it remains loose. Schiff advocated for rate hikes, expressing concerns that prolonged loose policy would exacerbate inflationary pressures.
&#8220;The longer the Fed maintains its current policy, the further away from 2% inflation will rise,&#8221; he said.
Schiff&#8217;s remarks come against the backdrop of a robust economy and strong job growth.&nbsp;
However, some economists, like Nobel laureate&nbsp;Paul Krugman, argue that consumer price inflation may not accurately reflect economic conditions, suggesting alternative measures such as the harmonized index of consumer prices, which excludes the owner-equivalent rent.
See Also:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-inflation-stocks" rel="noreferrer noopener">Best Inflation Stocks</a>
Higher For Longer: Jamie Cox, Managing Partner at Harris Financial Group, said Powell picked a bad timing to have a &#8220;communication problem on the path of rates this year.&#8221;
The economist, however, does not see the need for rate hikes, given the strong labor market, unaffected and consumer spending, The typical consequences of hiking rates weren&#8217;t apparent in the economy, he said. 
The economist also had a piece of advice for investors. &#8220;Markets need to focus on the fact that rates are sufficiently restrictive, instead of how many cuts are in the pipeline,&#8221; he said.
LPL Chief Economist Jeffrey Roach said Powell&#8217;s speech underlined his lack of confidence in inflation dynamics. &#8220;The Fed will likely stay on hold for longer than originally planned,&#8221; he said.
The central bank chief&#8217;s Q&amp;A session showed that supply constraints were continuing to add to inflationary pressures and this could make it hard for the Fed, Roach said. 
The bond market reacted to his comments, with investors now slowly coming to terms with the possibility of the central bank remaining on hold for most of this year, he said, adding, &#8220;Investors are reassessing risk appetite as Chair Powell is not confident that inflation is cooling enough for rate cuts.
LPL Chief Global Strategist Quincy Krosby said Powell was entering the &#8220;hawkish policy lane.&#8221; The Fed Chair essentially implied that the downward trajectory of inflation has essentially stalled, the analyst said.
&#8220;Moreover, he made it clear &#8211; rather than his more ambiguous stance regarding a rate easing timetable &#8211; that the &#8216;higher for longer&#8217; narrative remains intact,&#8221; Krosby said.
‌&#8221;This was unfriendly for equity markets, but markets got the message.&#8221;
The 10-year bond yield edged higher and is approaching the 4.7% level, which it previously hit in early November 2023. 
The major index futures are trading lower, pointing to another lackluster session on Wednesday.
The iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IEF#NASDAQ">IEF</a>) settled Tuesday&#8217;s session down 0.39% at $91.36 and the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) fell 0.18% before closing at $503.53, according to <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/lxquj26b2sag">Benzinga Pro data.</a>
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38085675/were-fd-says-rich-dad-poor-dad-author-robert-kiyosaki-because-fed-chair-powell-fina">&#8216;We&#8217;re F&#8217;d,&#8217; Says &#8216;Rich Dad Poor Dad&#8217; Author Robert Kiyosaki Because Fed Chair Powell &#8216;Finally Admitted Inflation Is Winning&#8217;</a>
Photo via Shutterstock

Jerome Powell Back In Hawkish Policy Lane? Why Economists Feel Fed's 'Higher For Longer' Narrative Hasn't Changed: 'Markets Need To Focus On The Fact That...'

Iran launched a barrage of explosive drones and missiles towards Israel late on Saturday in its first direct attack on Israeli soil, prompting concerns of a significant escalation. Sirens blared in Israel, as reported by Reuters, and distant booming sounds were heard, likely from the interception of the drones.
Israel said it identified 300 &quot;threats of various types&quot; and eliminated &quot;99%&quot; of those bound for Israeli soil, according to an update from an Israel Defense Forces spokesperson, as quoted on CNBC. Iran&#39;s Revolutionary Guards seized a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, saying the vessel, associated with Israel, prompted heightened alert levels due to the possibility of a direct Iranian attack,
This could escalate a decades-old standoff between the two regional adversaries. Notably, the Gaza war between Israel and Hamas, now entering its seventh month, has heightened tensions in the region, extending to conflicts with Lebanon and Syria. Additionally, long-range attacks targeting Israeli interests have originated from Yemen and Iraq.
<h3>Market Impact</h3>
Investors are likely to take this clash seriously and rush toward fear-induced selling. The sudden rise of chaos in the market brightened the appeal for safe haven assets. Volatility ETFs which track the implied volatility of the market also surged thanks to the massacre in the stock market. iPath Series B S&amp;P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN (BATS: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vxx#BATS">VXX</a>) has added about 4.2% past week and rose 8.8% on Friday and advanced about 1% after hours on Apr 12.
Below, we highlight a few of the biggest gainers from the latest sell-off in the stock market. Also, these ETFs may continue to shine should tensions persist in the global economy in the near term.
<h3>Gold</h3>
Gold is often viewed as a hedge against market risk. The metal has seen some strength lately thanks to this market turmoil. Gold bullion ETF SPDR Gold Trust (ARCA:GLD) has gained 0.4% in the past five days. It added 0.14% in after hours on Apr 12.
<h3>Long-Term U.S. Treasury</h3>
U.S. 10-year benchmark treasury yield slumped to 4.50% on Apr 12, 2024, down from 4.56% recorded on Apr 11 despite talks of higher-for-longer rates due to rise in volatility in the markets. Notably, U.S. Treasuries are also perceived as risk-free asset class which is why iShares Barclays 20 Year Treasury Bond Fund (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/tlt#NASDAQ">TLT</a>) and iShares Barclays 7-10 Year Treasury Bond Fund (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ief#NASDAQ">IEF</a>) added about 0.5% and 0.4% on Apr 12, 2024.
<h3>U.S. Dollar</h3>
The U.S. dollar is often viewed as a safe haven currency due to their strong liquidity and stable political systems. With the Fed likely to keep rates higher for longer due to sticky inflation, the U.S. dollar is likely to remain strong over the medium term. Invesco DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund (ARCA:UUP) can thus be played here.
<h3>Bottom Line</h3>
Although we do not expect this bearish trend to continue for long especially in the United States, which has a strong trend underneath, the upheaval in the stock market may persist for a week or so courtesy of the gloomy global backdrop and an oil price rally (due to crisis in the oil-rich Middle East). However, as the earnings season unfolds, this fluffy market should take a solid shape and decide on the fate of several asset classes and sectors.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2255601/3-safe-haven-etfs-to-gain-on-middle-east-crisis?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-etf_news_and_commentary-2255601">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

U.S. Treasury yields have reached their highest levels since mid-November 2023, driven by a mix of economic resilience, persistent fiscal spending <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38186082/this-puts-the-fed-in-quite-a-tricky-position-7-economists-weigh-in-on-march-inflati">and resuming inflationary pressures. </a>
These factors are steering the market&#8217;s expectations away from earlier predictions of imminent Federal Reserve rate cuts, significantly impacting the cost of issuing U.S. government debt.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Treasury Bond ETFs Fall To Mid-November 2023 Lows</h1>
On Monday, the yield on the 10-year Treasury note hit 4.61%, a peak not observed since Nov. 14, 2023. 
This represents a substantial increase of approximately 40 basis points since the beginning of the month.
Additionally, the daily chart for the 10-year Treasury yield shows the 50-day and 200-day moving averages have created a &#8220;golden cross&#8221; pattern, signaling the confirmation of an uptrend and the possibility of further increases, with the next resistance level now projected at 5%.
Concurrently, bond ETFs have experienced notable declines. The iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IEF#NASDAQ">IEF</a>) fell to its lowest level since Nov. 13, 2023, reflecting a 5.6% decrease since its February 2024 high. 
The iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TLT#NASDAQ">TLT</a>) has seen an even steeper drop, falling more than 11% from its January peak.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Chart: US 10-Year Yields For Golden-Cross Pattern</h1>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="495" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/15163420/image-80-1024x495.png" alt="" class="wp-image-292683" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/15163420/image-80-1024x495.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/15163420/image-80-300x145.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/15163420/image-80-768x372.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/15163420/image-80-1536x743.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/15163420/image-80.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Hot Economic Data Fuels Speculation On Fewer And Delayed Fed Rate Cuts</h1>
Recent robust U.S. economic indicators have contributed to a shift in market expectations regarding the Federal Reserve&#8217;s actions. 
March 2024 saw U.S. retail sales jump unexpectedly by 0.7%, against <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38253316/us-retail-sales-boom-well-above-forecasts-rise-4-on-the-year-blowout-report-economi">a forecast of 0.3%</a>. This comes on the heels of higher-than-expected inflation figures and a tighter-than-expected jobs report earlier in the month.
Originally, markets had anticipated the Fed to start reducing rates in June 2024, with a total of three cuts throughout the year. However, current speculations suggest the Fed might only implement a single rate cut this year. 
Traders now see only a 20% probability of a June rate cut and the anticipated overall easing for 2024 stands at around 40 basis points, indicating fewer than two quarter-percentage-point cuts.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Analysts Reassess Fed&#8217;s Rate Path: UBS Sees Fed Hiking Again</h1>
Analysts have quickly adjusted their forecasts on Fed interest rates in response to this shift in economic signals. 
A significant caution came from UBS Group AG strategists Jonathan Pingle and Bhanu Baweja, who highlighted the risk of inflation not decreasing to the Fed&#8217;s target, potentially necessitating a return to rate hikes and triggering a significant downturn in bonds and stocks.
As reported by <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-15/fed-hiking-rates-to-6-5-is-real-risk-for-ubs-strategists?srnd=homepage-americas&amp;sref=TBDibEcD">Bloomberg</a>, they warned of a possible return to rate hikes if inflation remains above 2.5%, predicting that the Federal Funds rate could reach 6.5% by mid-next year.
The UBS team described a &#8220;no-landing scenario&#8221; where further rate hikes could lead to a significant flattening of the U.S. Treasury curve and a potential 10%-15% decline in stock market values. 
They also forecasted wider credit spreads and a considerable adjustment in market multiples, cautioning that investors are beginning to worry about an overheated economy that could maintain high inflation level.
Photo: Funtap on Shutterstock

A bond trader has just placed a record-breaking single bet by going long on December 2024 <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/interest-rates">short-term interest rate futures. </a>
This strategy will pay off if the Federal Reserve cuts interest rates at least three times by the end of the year, a scenario that is not yet fully priced into the market following recent robust economic data and higher-than-expected inflation figures.
The Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) futures — the tool used to assess market wagers on Fed interest rates — suggest that traders are anticipating a total of 68 basis points in rate cuts by the end of the year.
What Happened: A significant transaction involving 75,000 December 2024 SOFR futures contracts through a block trade occurred shortly after 9 a.m. New York time on Tuesday, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-09/bond-trader-places-record-futures-bet-on-eve-of-inflation-data?srnd=homepage-americas&amp;sref=TBDibEcD">according</a> to Bloomberg. 
The CME Group verified this as the most substantial transaction for this product ever recorded, the report said. Block trades are substantial, privately negotiated transactions conducted at a single price.
The block trade for the December 2024 SOFR futures was executed at 95.320. 
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Chart: Bond Whale Bets Big On Fed Rate Cuts </h2>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="495" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/09161856/image-27-1024x495.png" alt="" class="wp-image-284602" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/09161856/image-27-1024x495.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/09161856/image-27-300x145.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/09161856/image-27-768x372.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/09161856/image-27-1536x743.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/09161856/image-27.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
Why It Matters: The value of these futures could significantly increase if the March consumer price index data due Wednesday morning indicates lower-than-anticipated inflation. 
Such an outcome could lead to renewed expectations that the Federal Reserve will enact at least three rate cuts this year. 
Additionally, the trade might have been executed to close out a short position, thereby minimizing risk in anticipation of the upcoming data release.
On the other hand, if the inflation figures are higher than expected, the possibility of witnessing higher-for-longer interest rates increases, which would further reduce market expectations for Fed rate cuts. Under such circumstances, the value of the December 2024 SOFR futures would decline.
Market Reactions: Treasury yields slightly fell Tuesday ahead of Wednesday&#8217;s inflation report. The iShares 1-3 Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SHY#NASDAQ">SHY</a>) inched 0.1% higher, the iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IEF#NASDAQ">IEF</a>) rose 0.4% and the iShares 20+ Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TLT#NASDAQ">TLT</a>) rallied 0.9%. 
Read now: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38169708/traders-brace-for-inflation-data-june-rate-cut-hopes-hang-by-thread-10-etfs-that-co">Traders Brace For Inflation Data, June Rate Cut Hopes Hang By Thread: 10 ETFs That Could Be Volatile Wednesday</a>
Federal Reserve illustration created using artificial intelligence via MidJourney.

Bond Trader Places Largest-Ever Bet On Fed Rate Cuts In 2024 Ahead Of March Inflation Report

In March, the U.S. labor market surged beyond predictions, with 303,000 nonfarm payrolls added, surpassing expectations of 212,000. This marked the highest figure since May 2023 and accompanied a slight decrease in the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/38108835">unemployment rate from 3.9% to 3.8%</a>. 
We covered it first here: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/38108835">US Labor Market Heats Up In March: Payrolls Grow By 303,000, Highest In 10 Months, Dampen June Rate Cut Hopes</a>
The robust report dashed hopes for Federal Reserve rate cuts, exacerbated by hawkish comments from Fed speakers, further dampening investor expectations.
The unexpected decrease in the unemployment rate from two-year highs and the anticipated rise in earnings signaled a tight labor market also reinforces the Federal Reserve&#8217;s stance against immediate interest rate cuts.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Economists Insights: March Jobs Report Dashed Hopes Of Rate Cut</h2>
The March jobs report has elicited diverse responses from economists and market analysts. Let&#8217;s delve into their viewpoints, capturing their original statements or key phrases to provide a comprehensive insight into the implications.
Joseph Brusuelas, Chief Economist at RSM US LLP, recognized as the best rate forecaster of 2023 by Bloomberg, shed light on the policy implications of the report. With wage growth slowing accompanying topline employment increases, Brusuelas sees the Fed relaxing a restrictive policy rate, given the PCE deflator continues to improve.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">US Jobs Report Policy Implications: With wage growth slowing to 4.1% from 4.3% while topline employment increased at 303K-276K 3 mo avg &amp; 244K 6mo avg-the Fed can relax a restrictive policy rate pending ongoing improvement in the PCE deflator.
&mdash; Joseph Brusuelas (@joebrusuelas) <a href="https://twitter.com/joebrusuelas/status/1776231519939408025?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
In his review note, Brusuelas emphasized the significance of acknowledging the increase in labor supply and rising productivity when formulating policies to avert unnecessary economic slowdowns and unemployment spikes. 
The March jobs report underscores &#8220;American Exceptionalism&#8221;, showcasing the nation&#8217;s superior economic performance compared to its counterparts, with sustained job gains averaging 276,000 over the past three months. 
This trend aligns with a favorable economic condition known as the &#8220;3-2 condition,&#8221; characterized by low unemployment rates and stable inflation, fostering conditions for robust growth and price stability.
According to Chris Zaccarelli, chief investment officer for Independent Advisor Alliance, March&#8217;s &#8220;blowout jobs numbers&#8221; indicate sustained economic strength, suggesting that consumer spending is likely to remain stable in the short term.
However, &#8220;this good news is bad news for the bond market&#8221; he said. It reduces the likelihood of earlier and more frequent rate cuts by the Federal Reserve, potentially delaying the first cut until July.
Nonetheless, this situation may bode well for the stock market, given that investor focus on consumer spending and corporate profits could drive stock prices higher.
Rob Swanke, senior equity strategist for Commonwealth Financial Network sees rate cut expectations in June remaining at around 60%. &#8220;Participation rose, and average hours worked rose which could help boost real income and spending in the economy without driving up inflation,&#8221; he said. Overall, Swanke sees the report increasing confidence in the economy.
Jeffrey Roach, chief economist at LPL Financial, attributed the strong job growth in the construction sector to &#8220;the demand for new homes amid low inventory.&#8221; According to Roach, although the likelihood of a Federal Reserve rate cut in June exceeds 50%, traders should consider the prospect of the European Central Bank cutting rates before the Fed. Roach advises investors to closely monitor fluctuations in the dollar during this period of uncertainty.
Quincy Krosby, chief global strategist for LPL Financial sees the numbers complicating the Fed&#8217;s goals. While headline numbers present challenges, average hourly wages provide some clarity, per Krosby. 
Despite the unemployment rate decreasing to 3.8%, the slight decline in hourly wages, crucial for assessing inflationary trends, has led to positive equity futures but upward movements in the 2-year Treasury yields and 10-year Treasury yields. Krosby noted the report bolsters the Fed&#8217;s position, highlighting that data showing a decline in inflation must accelerate to be impactful.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Market Reaction: Stocks And Dollar Gained, Bonds Fell</h2>
Treasury yields soared, with the 10-year yield surging above 4.35% and bonds fell. The&nbsp;iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TLT#NASDAQ">TLT</a>) was down&nbsp;0.95% while the iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IEF#NASDAQ">IEF</a>) was down 0.44% by 10:50 AM ET on Friday.
U.S. equity, as represented by the&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) was up 0.85% while the tech-focused&nbsp;Invesco QQQ Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NYSE">QQQ</a>) had gained 1.14% by 10:50 AM ET.
The U.S. dollar gained, with the Invesco DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UUP#NYSE">UUP</a>) up 0.18%.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/fintech/24/04/38110804/top-10-us-corporate-bonds-by-market-performance-in-2024-april-update">Top 10 US Corporate Bonds By Market Performance In 2024: April Update</a>
Image: Shutterstock

Analyst Ratings

March's 'Blowout' Jobs Numbers Underscore 'American Exceptionalism': 5 Economists Analyze 2024 Rate Cut Implications

The yields on U.S. Treasury notes have almost entirely retraced their surge following the release of the hotter-than-expected <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/02/37156844/retail-sales-sink-in-january-manufacturing-indicators-improve-jobless-claims-fall-thursdays-econ">January inflation report</a>. 
This indicates a swift shift in investor sentiment amidst conflicting economic indicators.
The 10-year Treasury note saw a decrease to 4.21% during Thursday morning&#8217;s trading in New York. This marks a five basis point drop after a six basis point decline the previous day. This movement erased the gains seen in the wake of the inflation data. Yields are back to their pre-report levels of approximately 4.17-4.18%.
Despite a higher-than-expected inflation rate for January, the anticipated impact on longer-dated maturities was short-lived. The 30-year Treasury note yield returned to 4.4%, aligning exactly with its position before the Consumer Price Index (CPI) announcement. 
However, a slight uptick remains in the two-year note, which, despite falling to 4.54%, is still about 8 basis points above its pre-inflation report trading figures.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="493" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/15104613/image-34-1024x493.png" alt="" class="wp-image-217625" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/15104613/image-34-1024x493.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/15104613/image-34-300x144.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/15104613/image-34-768x370.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/15104613/image-34-1536x739.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/15104613/image-34.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
Retail Sales Data Prompts Fed Cut Bets: The probability of Fed rate cuts in May and June 2024 has increased.
In January, retail sales contracted by 0.8% from a month earlier, marking a sharp reversal from December&#8217;s 0.4% surge. It is the biggest drop in retail sales since the bank crisis of March last year. On an annual basis, retail sales rose 0.6%, reflecting a sharp decline from December&#8217;s 5.3% annual rate. 
This has led traders to anticipate earlier rate reductions, with a June rate cut now seen as almost certain, boasting an 86% probability, while a downward adjustment in the fed funds rate by July is nearly fully anticipated by market participants. 
Money markets are currently forecasting a total of 105 basis points in rate cuts by the end of 2024, according to CME Group&#8217;s Fed Watch. 
The bond market responded positively to these developments, with rallies on Wednesday and continued strength into early Thursday trading as yields softened. 
Notably, the iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TLT#NASDAQ">TLT</a>) and the iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IEF#NASDAQ">IEF</a>) both experienced gains, opening 0.9% and 0.5% higher on Thursday. 
Read Now: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/02/37139816/2008-big-short-oracle-burry-bets-big-on-chinese-giants-backs-google-amazons-ai-wave">2008 &#8216;Big Short&#8217; Oracle Burry Bets Big On Chinese Giants, Backs Google, Amazon&#8217;s AI Wave</a>
Image: Shutterstock

Retail Sales

Treasury Yields Almost Fully Erase Post-Inflation Data Surge As Poor Retail Sales Reignite Fed Cut Hopes

<h3>Let&#39;s Rewind</h3>
2022 and 2023 were hectic - war, bank crises, and bear markets.
Inflation was still running rampant - with the core PCE having just peaked at +6.4% in February 2022. These consistent out-of-control inflation reports caused the Federal Reserve to take action by&nbsp;doing the only thing they know how to do -&nbsp;raise interest rates.
Starting in March 2022, the Fed raised rates at the fastest speed in modern history - from essentially 0% to 4.75% in only 12 months. As you can imagine, this rapid increase in interest rates caused bond prices to go into a free fall.
<div>
For those of you unaware, bond prices move inversely with interest rates.
Think about it like this - if you&#39;re an investor looking to generate fixed income inside of your portfolio, buying bonds might seem like a&nbsp;good idea.
However, as the months tick by and interest rates continue to rise, the value of the older bonds begins to fall -&nbsp;who wants to own a bond paying 3% ... if you can own a bond paying 5%.
Now, after nearly two years of consistent interest rate hikes, it seems like the Federal Reserve might be taking a break -&nbsp;at least that&#39;s what the market is hoping for.
Since mid-October, the price of the iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ief#NASDAQ">IEF</a>) has begun to make a comeback, having traded up +8.9%. With inflation now showing consistent contraction, the market is not only pricing in a Federal Reserve &quot;pause,&quot; but also interest rate cuts in 2024.&nbsp;
<h3>Fast Forward</h3>
Looking ahead to 2024 and 2025 - investors believe there are several reasons to be excited about adding core aggregate bond exposure to their portfolios. Bonds help provide stability in a multi-asset portfolio - coupon payments generate income, and bond prices tend to rise when economic growth slows.
Considering the slowing economic climate and current interest rates, bonds might be able to deliver on both of those fronts in 2024.
Aross many sectors of the bond market, yields have reached highs not seen since 2007. For example, the yield on a 5-year Treasury Bond is +241&nbsp;bps above the dividend yield of the S&amp;P 500 (ARCA:SPY) at the moment. The only negative yielding debt left in the entire world is in Japan.&nbsp;
I think strong performance will begin in 2024. We could experience modest price appreciation as yields fall while paired with a very attractive bond yield. Economic growth should continue to slow, inflation will continue to cool, and central banks will begin to reverse their rate-hiking cycles.
Choosing bonds within the 3-10 year maturity range offers investors an attractive yield while being less exposed to longer-term risks regarding government deficits.
<h3>My Personal Choice</h3>
The&nbsp;Neos Enhanced Income Aggregate Bond ETF (ARCA:BNDI)&nbsp;allows me to capture 2-2.5% more income per year while adding negligible risk to my well-diversified portfolio.&nbsp;
According to the <a href="https://neosfunds.com/wp-content/uploads/BNDI-Prospectus.pdf">prospectus</a>, the Neos Enhanced Income Aggregate Bond ETF seeks to achieve its investment objective of generating monthly income in a tax-efficient manner by...
<blockquote>&quot;(i) Investing 80% or more of its assets in bonds or ETFs that ... obtain exposure to the performance of the US Aggregate Bond market and (ii) selling and purchasing S&amp;P 500 Index put options to generate income to the Fund beyond what is received from the Underlying Investments.&quot;
</blockquote>
The prospectus also clearly states their intention to hold US Treasury bonds, government-related bonds, corporate bonds, mortgage-backed pass-through securities, commercial mortgage-backed securities and asset-backed securities to obtain exposure to the US Aggregate Bond market.
After looking at their <a href="https://neosfunds.com/bndi/#holdings">holdings</a> (as of 12/27/23), I&#39;ve confirmed this is the case - as the vast majority of the Fund&#39;s assets are invested evenly between the Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund ETF (<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/BND">BND</a>), and the iShares Core US Aggregate Bond ETF (<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AGG">AGG</a>).&nbsp;
Their holdings also show us that their fund managers are buying put options on the S&amp;P 500 Index with a strike price about 9.5% below the current price of the S&amp;P 500 Index (4,781&nbsp;at the time of writing) - while simultaneously selling put option contracts about 5.5% below the current price of the S&amp;P 500 Index.
It&#39;s important to note that these put option contracts have expiration dates roughly two weeks out from the time of purchase.
Year-to-date, BNDI has paid $2.52 per share to their investors. This $2.52 figure roughly equates to the 5.53% distribution yield <a href="https://neosfunds.com/bndi/">shown here on their website</a>.&nbsp;
When taking into consideration the forward dividend yield of the underlying investments inside of BNDI as shared earlier - the fund managers are generating +239&nbsp;bps of additional yield on top of the already 3.14% yield produced by the fund&#39;s underlying investments.
They&#39;re doing this while taking on negligible risk, as shown on <a href="https://neosfunds.com/monthly-income-etfs/">this page of their website</a>.&nbsp;
If you compare Scenario 1: Hypothetical core asset allocation&#39;s portfolio yield and 1-yr standard deviation to Scenario 3&#39;s - you&#39;ll see that when you replace traditional fixed income securities with BNDI the portfolio&#39;s overall yield increased dramatically while 1-yr standard deviations remains nearly the same.
That&#39;s the secret sauce here with BNDI - when owned inside of a well-diversified portfolio, investors can expect heightened portfolio yield with near-identical risk.
<h3>Risks</h3>
As with all investment ideas, this one doesn&#39;t come without its risks. In my opinion, there are two main risk factors at play here - the Fed&nbsp;not&nbsp;cutting rates in 2024 and BNDI&#39;s put option strategy.
According to a&nbsp;<a href="https://privatebank.jpmorgan.com/nam/en/insights/latest-and-featured/outlook#:~:text=As%20we%20head%20into%202024,becoming%20more%20accessible%20to%20investors">recent report</a>&nbsp;shared with JPMorgan&#39;s private banking clients, Wall Street is assuming a +12% increase in bond prices per -1% cut in interest rates. Of course, these are all assumptions and nothing is guaranteed.
If the Fed does&nbsp;not&nbsp;cut interest rates in 2024 and instead holds steady throughout the year, BNDI would likely trade sideways - forcing investors to depend on the Fund&#39;s put option strategy and the existing yield of its underlying investments to generate returns for their portfolios.
If you&#39;re an income-focused investor, this outcome might not be a bad scenario for you. If you&#39;re looking for both price appreciation&nbsp;and&nbsp;yield, this outcome would be disappointing.
The second risk factor is their put option strategy - leaving the fund to be on the hook for paying out against the option contracts they&#39;ve sold. Considering the Fund managers&#39; backgrounds in options-based ETFs, this is something I&#39;m not worried about. This is the same leadership team successfully executing upon both the (<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SPYI">SPYI</a>) and (<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CSHI">CSHI</a>) ETFs - one of the main reasons I&#39;m interested in this &quot;hidden gem&quot; ETF in the first place.
Statistically speaking, this put option strategy going sour would be a Black Swan event of sorts. To learn more about this put option strategy, feel free to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/23/09/34870903/cshi-the-options-based-cash-alternative-everyone-needs-to-know-about-right-now">read&nbsp;this analysis&nbsp;on CSHI</a> which uses a similar, but slightly more conservative, strategy.
<h3>In Summary</h3>
2022 and 2023 were quite hectic for the bond market as investors were forced to continually discount the price of bonds to offset increasing interest rates. However, 2024 is shaping up to be a year that could catalyze both price appreciation while locking in heightened rates.
The Neos Enhanced Income Aggregate Bond ETF is how I plan to play this move - not only will I be experiencing possible price appreciation given their fund&#39;s underlying assets with heightened rates, but I&#39;ll also be earning +2.2% more in income given their put option strategy while taking on very little additional risk.
</div>
This article is from an external contributor. It does not represent Benzinga&#39;s reporting and has not been edited for content or accuracy.

BNDI: 2024's Hidden Gem Bond ETF That Produces 2% Additional Income While Maintaining A Similar Risk Profile

Russia launched an unprecedented aerial attack on Ukraine, firing 122 missiles and deploying numerous drones, resulting in the tragic death of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/russia-ukraine-war">at least 22 civilians</a>. 
Ukrainian officials have <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ukraine-russia-most-massive-aerial-attack/">described</a> it as the most extensive aerial barrage since Russia&#8217;s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
The Ukrainian air force claims to have intercepted most of the ballistic and cruise missiles, showcasing the country&#8217;s defense capabilities in the face of the relentless assault. 
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/12/36374438/trump-putin-friendship-fiona-hill-reveals-putin-has-trumps-number-and-still-views-him-as-an-asset">Trump-Putin Friendship? Fiona Hill Reveals Putin &#8216;Has Trump&#8217;s Number&#8217; And Still Views Him &#8216;As An Asset&#8217;</a>
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlighted the diverse array of weapons used by Russia, including ballistic and cruise missiles, underlining the severity of the attack.
Notably, this marks a significant escalation compared to previous assaults, with the Ukrainian Air Force reporting that the last major attack involved 96 missiles in November 2022. The severity of the current situation raises concerns about the potential economic impact on global markets.
Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat noted that Russia seemingly utilized all available weaponry in this latest assault. As the conflict intensifies, investors are likely to turn their attention to traditional safe-haven assets (i.e., gold and government bonds). They&#8217;re also closely monitoring the performance of defense and energy stocks:
<ul>
<li>The SPDR Gold Trust ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLD#NYSE">GLD</a>) </li>
<li>The iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TLT#NASDAQ">TLT</a>)</li>
<li>The iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IEF#NYSE">IEF</a>) </li>
<li>The SPDR Bloomberg 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BIL#NYSE">BIL</a>) </li>
<li>The iShares U.S. Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITA#NYSE">ITA</a>) </li>
<li>And the Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLE#NYSE">XLE</a>) </li>
</ul>
The unfolding geopolitical situation underscores the inherent uncertainties in the market. Investors are grappling with the potential consequences of heightened hostilities between Russia and Ukraine. Market participants are advised to stay vigilant and responsive to evolving geopolitical developments.
Now Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/12/36380487/experts-warn-russia-china-forming-military-alliance-to-counter-us-dominance-would-present-the-united">Experts Warn Russia, China Forming Military Alliance &#8216;Would Present The United States With A Threat Unlike Any It Has Confronted&#8217;</a>

Asia

Eurozone

Global

iShares Dow Jones US Aerospace & Defense Index Fund

Russia's Biggest Ukrainian Attack To Date: Unpacking Latest  Missile, Drone Salvo

For the first quarter of 2024, JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>) is for overweight U.S. equity, Japanese equity, U.S. Treasury and high-yield corporate debt. The company said &#8220;cash returns are <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/23/11/35614060/warren-buffett-led-berkshire-hathways-ginormous-157b-cash-pile-is-nearing-levels-held-by-one-of-">set to fall</a>&#8221; and the U.S. stock market would &#8220;likely see the S&amp;P 500 test the 5,000 l<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/12/36229445/amazon-and-alphabet-top-picks-for-2024-jpmorgan-bets-on-continued-mega-cap-tech-rally">evel in 2024</a>.&#8221;
Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/23/12/36069647/2024-outlook-put-pause-pivot">2024 Outlook: Put, Pause, Pivot</a>
John Bilton, head of Global Multi-Asset Strategy at JPMorgan, and his team <a href="https://am.jpmorgan.com/content/dam/jpm-am-aem/global/en/insights/portfolio-insights/pi-gaav.pdf">shared</a> insights from the Multi-Asset Solutions Strategy Summit they had recently.
&#8220;We see positive U.S. stock performance broadening beyond tech as an improving U.S. inventory cycle boosts cyclical sectors,&#8221; said Bilton. &#8220;Japanese stocks remain attractive, given rerating potential driven by corporate governance reforms.&#8221;
Here&#8217;s a quick look at their perspective on each asset class and few trading ideas around them (added by author):
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Equity</h2>
JPMorgan is overweight on U.S., U.K. and Japanese equity, and underweight on European equity and Emerging Markets (ex-China).
<ul>
<li>U.S.: Expectations for an earnings growth estimate of 7% into the next year. Lower rates to provide support to stock multiples. Cash generation potential in U.S. equity. Equities outlook is also improving as the earnings downgrade cycle appears to be bottoming. The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>), the iShares Core S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IVV#NYSE">IVV</a>) and the Vanguard 500 Index Fund ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOO#NYSE">VOO</a>) are popular funds to gain exposure to broad-market U.S. equity.</li>
<li>U.K.: U.K. equity is cheap and supported by valuations and flows. It is a defensive market; with a positive gearing towards commodities. The iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EWU#NYSE">EWU</a>) is a popular U.K. equity tracking ETF.</li>
<li>Japan: Japanese stocks remain attractive. There&#8217;s rerating potential, given improving nominal growth in the country and scope for valuation expansion. The corporate governance reforms mandated by the Tokyo Stock Exchange should support shareholder returns and drive up ROE. The iShares MSCI Japan ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EWJ#NYSE">EWJ</a>) offers exposure to Japanese equity.</li>
<li>Europe: European growth is expected to remain sluggish going into 2024. </li>
<li>EM: Emerging market equities, though cheap, lack clear catalysts for a rebound. </li>
</ul>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Fixed-Income</h2>
From the fixed-income space, JPMorgan is overweight U.S. Treasury and high-yield corporate. It is underweight EMD hard currency.
<ul>
<li>The prospect of rate cuts in 2024 supports a duration overweight position. Yields may begin to fall steadily as rate cuts begin.</li>
<li>Investors should prefer U.S. Treasuries to other G4 countries. Yields in the low 4s should be attractive ahead of Fed rate cuts. JPMorgan sees potential returns of 10%–20% if growth disappoints. The iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TLT#NYSE">TLT</a>), the iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IEF#NYSE">IEF</a>) and the SPDR Bloomberg 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BIL#NYSE">BIL</a>) are popular ways to get exposure to U.S. Treasury.</li>
<li>Overweight corporate high-yield debt as there&#8217;s modest scope for spread tightening. Fundamentals appear supportive with limited rise in defaults. Overall, the carry looks attractive. The iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HYG#NYSE">HYG</a>) and the iShares Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USHY#NYSE">USHY</a>) are two of the largest ETFs providing exposure to high-yield corporate debt in the U.S.</li>
</ul>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Currency &amp; Cash</h2>
The US dollar, as tracked by the Invesco DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UUP#NYSE">UUP</a>), appears set to weaken in 2024. JPMorgan sees a soft landing for the greenback as growth broadens out globally.
Rate cuts possibility in the U.S. further supports a US dollar underweight position.
Bilton is also underweight on cash. &#8220;Cash returns set to fall as cutting cycle begins; long-term USD rates likely nearer 2.5% than 5.5%,&#8221; he laid out.
Now Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/23/11/35837453/goldman-sachs-2024-equity-outlook-winning-stocks-and-sectors-to-watch">Goldman Sachs&#8217; 2024 Equity Outlook: Winning Stocks And Sectors To Watch</a>

USHY

S&P 500 Likely To 'Test The 5,000 Level': JP Morgan On Where To Allocate In 2024

BlackRock Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BLK#NYSE">BLK</a>) doesn&#8217;t anticipate rate cuts until the second half of 2024. The shape of the yield curve and the trajectory of growth will be key drivers of returns.
Gargi Pal Chaudhuri, head of iShares Investment Strategy Americas at BlackRock, <a href="https://www.ishares.com/us/insights/year-ahead-outlook-2024#macro">shared</a> her view on the outlook. 
&#8220;The shape of the yield curve is now signaling that it's time to consider allocating out of cash,&#8221; noted Chaudhuri. She believed that sitting in cash in 2024 would mean missing out on bond and equity market returns.
Chaudhuri identified opportunities to deploy cash selectively across asset classes:
<ul>
<li>Fixed income: pairing intermediate duration core holdings with differentiated income-seeking exposures.</li>
<li>Equities: adding downside protection in core exposures while taking targeted risk in loveable laggards.</li>
</ul>
An interesting fact that came to light from the report was that in the previous five hiking cycles since 1990, the Fed paused an average of 10 months between its last hike and its first cut.&nbsp;On average, stock and bond returns have been higher during the pause period than in easing periods immediately following the first cut.
Frequent portfolio adjustments may be needed in 2024, owing to:
<ul>
<li>Geopolitical risks</li>
<li>Election cycles</li>
<li>Worsening U.S. fiscal backdrop, and</li>
<li>Shifting central bank narratives</li>
</ul>
For equity allocations, managing macro risks in a slowing growth backdrop will be key.&nbsp;
&#8220;In a shifting macro environment, remaining invested can be paramount, but adding downside resiliency to core equity holdings could make sense for many investors,&#8221; said Chaudhuri. 
Using ETFs as investment vehicles could be a good strategy in such a macro-environment, per BlackRock, as these efficiently adjust to rapidly changing realities.
For reference, SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>), iShares Core S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IVV#NYSE">IVV</a>), Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VTI#NYSE">VTI</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) are the most popular and biggest U.S. equity tracking ETFs in the U.S.
The most popular intermediate-term bond ETFs are Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VCIT#NYSE">VCIT</a>), iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IEF#NYSE">IEF</a>) and Vanguard Intermediate-Term Treasury ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VGIT#NYSE">VGIT</a>).
Photo: Shutterstock

Personal Finance

VCIT

VGIT

Traders May Need Frequent Portfolio Adjustments In 2024: BlackRock

October jobs report numbers missed expectations Friday, and came in at nearly half of September's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/23/11/35589503/labor-market-shows-signs-of-softening-october-payrolls-decline-to-150-000-below-e">reported figures</a>. 
Non-farm payrolls increased by 150,000 jobs in October, registering a steep decline from September's 297,000 jobs. The figure fell short of market forecasts, which stood at 180,000. One key reason for the deceleration is likely the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/uaw">United Auto Workers strikes</a>, which resulted in a net loss of jobs for the manufacturing sector.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Market Reaction To The US Jobs Report</h2>
Treasury yields tumbled across the board. The yield on the two-year Treasury fell to 4.87%, a decrease of more than 10 basis points, while the 10-year Treasury yields fell by 11 basis points to 4.56%. The benchmark Treasury yield has declined this week from recent highs, when it occasionally traded above the 5% threshold.
The dip in yields led to gains in exchange-traded funds invested in T-bonds. At the time of writing, these ETFs were recording the following price action Friday: 
<ul>
<li>iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TLT#NASDAQ">TLT</a>) was up 1.59%.</li>
<li>Vanguard Long-Term Treasury ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VGLT#NASDAQ">VGLT</a>) gained 1.58%.</li>
<li>iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IEF#NASDAQ">IEF</a>) gained 1.03%.</li>
<li>SPDR Bloomberg 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BIL#NYSE">BIL</a>) was up 0.02%.</li>
<li>iShares 1-3 Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SHY#NASDAQ">SHY</a>) was up 0.19%.</li>
</ul>
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/23/11/35570015/october-jobs-report-expected-to-show-dip-heres-how-markets-may-react">October Jobs Report Expected To Show Dip — Here&#8217;s How Markets May React</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">5 Economists React To NFPs Report</h2>
Joseph Brusuelas, chief economist at RSM US LLP, said the moderation in the pace of hiring points towards a cooler pace of growth and inflation. This could actually be needed by the American economy, which has been hiring and expanding at a torrid pace in recent months, he said. 
Lawrence Yun, chief economist at NAR, sees the Federal Reserve pivoting from raising interest rates to the neutral stance it has now to eventually cutting interest rates next year. &#8220;Be ready for more home buyers and more home sellers,&#8221; he said. 
Oliver Rust, head of product at Truflation, said the unemployment figures suggest the effect of monetary policy tightening is not feeding through to the labor market in a meaningful way. As such, he warns that an interest rate hike in December may be back on the table.
Brad McMillan, CIO for Commonwealth Financial Network, said the job report will help keep the Fed on the sidelines going forward. Since the dip in job numbers was anticipated, McMillan said the actual numbers — adjusted for the UAW strike — are probably better than the report ,indicating that despite the slowdown, job growth remains healthy overall.
Chris Zaccarelli, CIO for Independent Advisor Alliance, said the jobs report is one to trigger a &#8220;risk-on rally&#8221; into year-end. &#8220;Given that jobs growth is slowing and the unemployment rate is ticking up slightly, that is the kind of data that will keep the Fed on hold and both stock and bond prices should move higher (bond yields lower) in the absence of a more aggressive Fed, &#8221; he said. 
&#8220;The market climbs a wall of worry and we may see many more gains — in the form of a short squeeze and FOMO — before the next bear market begins,&#8221; he said. 
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/23/10/35272828/economists-see-recession-risk-waning-end-of-fed-rate-hikes-how-could-treasury-etf">Economists See Recession Risk Waning, End Of Fed Rate Hikes: How Could Treasury ETFs React To Yields?</a>
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Much-Needed Cooling Off Or Risk-On Rally Ahead? Yields Tumble, Bonds Gain After October Jobs Report

The U.S. Treasury released its quarterly refunding statement Wednesday, letting anxious bond holders catch some breath. 
The &#8220;Treasury currently expects privately-held net marketable borrowing of $776bln in Q1 FY 2024&#8230; lower than what was cited at the August refunding, primarily due to projections of higher receipts which were somewhat offset by higher outlays,&#8221; the report said. 
While the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/23/10/35519171/fed-meeting-preview-bank-of-america-expects-one-more-interest-rate-hike-and-heres-w">Fed&#8217;s FOMC meeting</a> Wednesday is in the spotlight for most market watchers, fixed income investors are watching the U.S. Treasury. The Treasury&#8217;s borrowing plans help bond market investors such as those invested in the iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TLT#NASDAQ">TLT</a>), the iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IEF#NASDAQ">IEF</a>) and the SPDR Bloomberg 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BIL#NYSE">BIL</a>) better position themselves and their portfolios.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury is offering $112 billion in Treasury securities to refund approximately $102.2 billion of privately held Treasury notes maturing on Nov. 15, 2023.&nbsp;This issuance will raise new cash from private investors of approximately $9.8 billion.&nbsp;The securities are:
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><ul>
<li>A three-year note in the amount of $48 billion, maturing Nov. 15, 2026;</li>
<li>A 10-year note in the amount of $40 billion, maturing Nov. 15, 2033; and</li>
<li>A 30-year bond in the amount of $24 billion, maturing Nov. 15, 2053.</li>
</ul>
<cite>Source: Nov 1 Quarterly Refunding Statement &#8211; US Treasury</cite></blockquote>
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/23/10/35378461/10-year-yield-at-5-triggers-waves-of-treasury-buyers-bill-ackman-technical-indicato">10-Year Yield At 5% Triggers Waves Of Treasury Buyers: Bill Ackman, Technical Indicators Hint At Potential Shift</a>
The Treasury said it recognizes that 10-year yields have experienced significant fluctuations, trading within a 100-basis-point range since the last meeting in August. Two-year Treasury yields have been comparatively more stable but still traded in a 45-basis-point range. 
Strong economic and labor market data, the possibility of a higher neutral interest rate, supply-demand dynamics and a positive &#8220;term premium&#8221; in long-dated Treasury securities were cited as factors contributing to the significant fluctuations seen in bonds along the far end of the yield curve.
The <a href="https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy1864">report</a>, in essence, underscored the need for Treasury to maintain flexibility in its issuance strategy, citing examples to lay down the fiscal and economic backdrop. It reemphasized the importance of addressing factors like the global macroeconomic outlook, term premium and global monetary policy synchronization when evaluating demand for U.S. Treasuries. 
The Treasury Committee recommended considering increased issuance in more liquid parts of the yield curve and retaining flexibility with T-Bill share in the medium term. The report suggests no increase in 20-year issuance and a more modest increase in seven-year issuance relative to other tenors.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/23/10/35097916/yield-curve-inversion-may-not-predict-recession-but-analyst-says-too-early-to-decla">Yield Curve Inversion May Not Predict Recession, But Analyst Says Too Early To Declare &#8216;All Clear&#8217; On Downturn</a>
Photo via Shutterstock.

Treasury's Refunding Statement Hints At Increased Issuance In More Liquid Parts Of Yield Curve

On CNBC&rsquo;s &quot;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2023/10/24/final-trades-wynn-mcdonalds-more.html">Halftime Report Final Trades</a>,&quot; Josh&nbsp;Brown of Ritholtz Wealth Management named iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ief#NASDAQ">IEF</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/23/10/35409127/why-the-fear-level-among-us-investors-is-easing"> as his final trade. </a>
Jim Lebenthal of Cerity Partners picked Wynn Resorts, Limited (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/wynn#NASDAQ">WYNN</a>). Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/lvs#NYSE">LVS</a>), last week, reported better-than-expected third-quarter financial results. &quot;I think you got a good report coming up in a couple of weeks [from Wynn Resorts],&quot; he noted.
HSBC recently initiated coverage on the stock with a Buy rating and a $111 price target.
Don&rsquo;t forget to check out our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket/"> premarket coverage here </a> 
Stephanie Link of Hightower said she likes McDonald&#39;s Corporation (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mcd#NYSE">MCD</a>), which is down 14% from its highs.
Barclays analyst Jeffrey Bernstein recently maintained McDonald&#39;s with an Overweight and lowered the price target from $345 to $315. McDonald&#39;s also increased its quarterly cash dividend by 10%.
Price Action: Wynn Resorts shares gained 1.8% to close at $91.42, while McDonald&#39;s shares rose 1% to settle at $257.27 on Tuesday.
Check This Out: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/23/10/35409030/boeing-microsoft-and-3-stocks-to-watch-heading-into-wednesday"> Boeing, Microsoft And 3 Stocks To Watch Heading Into Wednesday</a>
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WYNN

McDonald's, Wynn Resorts And More: CNBC's 'Final Trades'

CNBC Halftime Report Final Trades: Wynn Resorts, McDonald's, IShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF

To gain an edge, this is what you need to know today.
<img alt="" src="https://thearorareport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2023-10-24_08h14_11.png" style="height:413px; width:624px" />
<h3>Buying In Stocks</h3>
Please&nbsp;<a href="https://thearorareport.com/stock-market-chart-analysis-10-year-yield-stock-buying-ief-mc-10242023">click here</a>&nbsp;for a chart of iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ief#NASDAQ">IEF</a>).
Note the following:
<ul>
<li>The trendline on the chart shows that&nbsp;IEF&nbsp;has been in a downtrend.&nbsp;IEF&nbsp;being in a downtrend means that the yield on 10 year Treasuries has been rising.&nbsp;This has been putting pressure on the stock market. The chart shows that IEF bounced yesterday and is bouncing more today as yields pull back from the psychologically important 5% level.</li>
<li>The pullback in yields is bringing in buyers.</li>
<li>Two very important earnings for the stock market are Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/msft#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) and Alphabet Inc Class C (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/goog#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>).&nbsp;Both report earnings after the market close.</li>
<li>As is their pattern, the momo crowd is buying tech stocks ahead of the earnings on hope strategy.</li>
<li>Prudent investors need to remember that hope is never a good strategy.</li>
<li>For your buying, consider sticking to the proven system with an unrivaled track record that combines the six screens of the&nbsp;<a href="https://thearorareport.com/zyxmethod">ZYX Change Method</a>&nbsp;and the adaptive&nbsp;<a href="https://thearorareport.com/ALLOCATION%2BMODELS.htm">ZYX Asset Allocation Model</a>&nbsp;with inputs in ten categories.</li>
<li>There is also buying coming into the stock market on delays in Israeli invasion of Gaza.</li>
<li>Bitcoin and speculative stocks tend to be correlated.&nbsp; Buying is coming into speculative stocks in sympathy with the surge in bitcoin.&nbsp;Please scroll down to see the bitcoin section.</li>
<li>Earnings are in focus as 30% of S&amp;P 500 earnings are being reported this week.&nbsp; Among the important companies reporting earnings, earnings from&nbsp;Coca-Cola Co&nbsp;(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ko#NYSE">KO</a>),&nbsp;Verizon Communications Inc.&nbsp;(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vz#NYSE">VZ</a>), Rtx Corp&nbsp;(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/rtx#NYSE">RTX</a>), Dow Inc&nbsp;(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/dow#NYSE">DOW</a>),&nbsp;3M Co&nbsp;(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mmm#NYSE">MMM</a>),&nbsp;Sherwin-Williams Co&nbsp;(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/shw#NYSE">SHW</a>),&nbsp;General Motors Co&nbsp;(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/gm#NYSE">GM</a>), and&nbsp;General Electric Co&nbsp;(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ge#NYSE">GE</a>)&nbsp;are better than expected; earnings from HCA Healthcare Inc&nbsp;(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/hca#NYSE">HCA</a>),&nbsp;AGNC Investment Corp&nbsp;(NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/agnc#NASDAQ">AGNC</a>),&nbsp;Corning Incorporated&nbsp;(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/glw#NYSE">GLW</a>), Packaging Corp Of America&nbsp;(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/pkg#NYSE">PKG</a>), and&nbsp;Polaris Inc&nbsp;(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/pii#NYSE">PII</a>)&nbsp;are worse than expected.</li>
<li>As an actionable item, the sum total of the foregoing is in the protection band, which strikes the optimum balance between various crosscurrents.&nbsp;Please scroll down to see the protection band.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Japan</h3>
We have been sharing with you that the monetary policy in Japan is having a major impact on the&nbsp;U.S. stock market and the impact will likely increase as Bank of Japan (BOJ) tightens its monetary policy.
BOJ&nbsp;conducted a buying operation to purchase JGBs with maturities between 5 - 10 years and 10 - 25 years.
Japan is considering an income tax cut for individuals
<h3>Europe</h3>
European Central Bank (ECB) is likely to pause interest rate hikes and move to shrinking its balance sheet.
<h3>Magnificent Seven Money Flows</h3>
In the early trade, money flows are positive in Microsoft, Alphabet, Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/meta#NASDAQ">META</a>), Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/amzn#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), NVIDIA Corp (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/nvda#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), and Tesla Inc (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/tsla#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>).
In the early trade, money flows are neutral in Apple Inc (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/aapl#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>).
In the early trade, money flows are mixed in SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (ARCA:SPY) and Invesco QQQ Trust Series 1 (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/qqq#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>).
<h3>Momo Crowd And Smart Money In Stocks</h3>
The momo crowd is buying stocks in the early trade.&nbsp;Smart money is &#128274;&nbsp;in the early trade.&nbsp;To see the locked content, <a href="https://thearorareport.com/sub">please click here to start a free trial</a>.
<h3>Gold</h3>
The momo crowd is buying gold in the early trade.&nbsp;Smart money is &#128274;&nbsp;in the early trade.
For longer-term, please see gold and silver ratings.
The most popular ETF for gold is SPDR Gold Trust (ARCA:GLD). The most popular ETF for silver is iShares Silver Trust (ARCA:SLV).&nbsp;
<h3>Oil</h3>
The momo crowd is selling oil in the early trade.&nbsp;Smart money is &#128274;&nbsp;in the early trade.
For longer-term, please see oil ratings.
The most popular ETF for oil is United States Oil ETF (ARCA:USO).
<h3>Bitcoin</h3>
We have been sharing with you for some time that Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) market cap may add $1T&nbsp;if a spot bitcoin ETF is approved.&nbsp;We have also been sharing with you the buying pattern in bitcoin.&nbsp;Retail investors are aggressively buying bitcoin after whales ran it up over the weekend.&nbsp; Retail investors are now learning about a potential spot bitcoin ETF.
<h3>Markets</h3>
Our very, very short-term early stock market indicator is &#128274;.&nbsp;This indicator, with a great track record, is popular among long term investors to stay in tune with the market and among short term traders to independently undertake quick trades.
<h3>Protection Band And What To Do Now</h3>
It is important for investors to look ahead and not in the rearview mirror.
Consider continuing to hold good, very long term, existing positions. Based on individual risk preference, consider holding &#128274; in cash or Treasury bills or allocated to short-term tactical trades; and short to medium-term hedges of &#128274;, and short term hedges of &#128274;. This is a good way to protect yourself and participate in the upside at the same time.
You can determine your protection bands by adding cash to hedges.&nbsp;The high band of the protection is appropriate for those who are older or conservative. The low band of the protection is appropriate for those who are younger or aggressive. If you do not hedge, the total cash level should be more than stated above but significantly less than cash plus hedges.
It is worth reminding that you cannot take advantage of new upcoming opportunities if you are not holding enough cash.&nbsp;When adjusting hedge levels, consider adjusting partial stop quantities for stock positions (non ETF); consider using wider stops on remaining quantities and also allowing more room for high beta stocks.&nbsp; High beta stocks are the ones that move more than the market.
<h3>Traditional 60/40 Portfolio</h3>
Probability based risk reward adjusted for inflation does not favor long duration strategic bond allocation at this time.
Those who want to stick to traditional 60% allocation to stocks and 40% to bonds may consider focusing on only high quality bonds and bonds of five year duration or less.&nbsp;Those willing to bring sophistication to their investing may consider using bond ETFs as tactical positions and not strategic positions at this time.
The Arora Report is known for its accurate calls.&nbsp;The Arora Report correctly called the 2008 financial crash, the start of a mega bull market in 2009, the COVID crash, the post-COVID bull market, and the 2022 bear market.&nbsp; Please click here to sign up for a free forever <a href="https://thearorareport.com/generate-wealth-newsletter">Generate Wealth Newsletter</a>.

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