After years of low returns, bonds are paying real money again. But as investors are discovering, they aren't exactly set-it-and-forget-it investments. Bonds require active management, and investors need to stay informed to avoid potential losses.
When shock rippled through the U.S. banking system this month, bonds again proved themselves to investors, according to Ashish Shah, co-chief investment officer at Goldman Sachs Asset Management. Shah noted that bonds rallied during the market turbulence, providing a safe haven for investors.
Investors are pouring money into bond funds—a reversal from a trend seen for most of this year—and it has vast implications for financial markets. As investors shift from stocks to bonds, stock prices may suffer, while bond prices rise.
Stocks soared on Friday to their best day in more than a month. The Dow gained 700 points and the S&P 500 and Nasdaq rose by 2.3% and 2.6%, respectively. But despite this positive news, many investors remain wary of the stock market's volatility.
One silver lining to the Federal Reserve's rate raising campaign is that government bonds are now paying the highest returns we've seen in years. This is good news for investors who prefer low-risk, fixed-income investments.
With inflation cooling and interest rates seen peaking soon, some strategists say it's time to buy stocks and bonds again to rebuild your portfolio. But caution is advised, as the market remains unpredictable.
Stocks are down more than 20% this year. Usually when that happens, bonds hold their value. But right now, both are down sharply, indicating a lack of confidence in the market as a whole.
My back-to-work morning train WFH reads include an interesting article on whether it's better to outperform during bull markets or bear markets. It's hard to believe how much the market has changed in the past year, and investors need to stay informed to avoid making costly mistakes.
The recovery has emboldened investors who didn't stray from their investment approach during 2022's market tumult. But caution is still advised, as the market remains unpredictable and volatile.
Ticker: GS
