Junk bonds suggest U.S. stocks may have further to run

U.S. stocks just wrapped up their best quarter in nearly a decade, coming within a stone’s throw of a record high.

The clearest catalyst for the turnaround is the change in posture from the Federal Reserve, which has taken an open-ended hiatus from interest-rate hikes and will soon stop letting bonds roll off its balance sheet. The ensuing drop in yields on safe-havens like Treasuries has been a tailwind for riskier assets.

In the current case, the high-yield index has been striking new tops since early February. Meanwhile, the S&P, up 22 per cent from its December low, is about 2 per cent short of last fall’s record and the Russell 2000, the benchmark for small-cap stocks, is around 10% below its high-water mark.The drive higher in both markets is occurring against the most uncertain economic backdrop in several years, a suddenly clouded horizon that drove the Fed to cut short a three-year tightening cycle.

“Both markets are getting onto this weird cycle where they’re pointing fingers at each other in the absence of any economic news.”Still, equity markets are flashing green, and market volatility, which rises when investors are anxious, is not far off last fall’s lows when stocks were last at a record.

Canada Canada Latest News, Canada Canada Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

U.S. bond market takes worst beating in three monthsEncouraging data on manufacturing activity spurs some investors to scale back their holdings globeinvestor
Source: globeandmail - 🏆 5. / 92 Read more »

Bump stocks are turned in or destroyed as U.S. ban takes effectThe U.S. ban on bump stocks took effect this week, and there are signs that owners destroyed tens of thousands of them or handed them over to authorities as required.
Source: CTVNews - 🏆 1. / 99 Read more »

Premarket: Global stocks rise on U.S., China trade optimismStocks set to post best quarterly performance since 2012, while global bond yields move higher globeinvestor How can a market think ANYTHING is ok? I don’t think it’s ok. (With inspiration to Adam Schiff)
Source: globeandmail - 🏆 5. / 92 Read more »

Asian stocks inch higher on hopes of progress in U.S.-China talksInvestors’ moods brightened on news Chinese negotiators have made a number of new proposals in their discussions with U.S. officials
Source: globeandmail - 🏆 5. / 92 Read more »