Here’s a thought for investors: If the Federal Reserve raises interest rates to 5% or more would that wreck the economy and stock prices ?
Doomsday investors, including hedge-fund billionaire Paul Singer, have been warning against that outcome. Singer thinks a credit crunch and deep recession may be necessary to purge dangerous levels of froth in markets after an era of near-zero interest rates. Fed Governor Christopher Waller on Friday warned that interest rates might need to increase even more than markets currently anticipate to restrain the rise in the cost of living, reflected recently in the March consumer-price index at a 5% yearly rate, down to the central bank’s 2% annual target.
“Profit margins have been coming down , but they are coming off peak levels,” Del Vecchio said. “So they are still very, very strong and trending lower. Probably that continues to trend lower this quarter.” “Some highly levered companies that have debt maturities in the near future will struggle and may even struggle to keep the lights on,” said Austin Graff, chief investment officer at Opal Capital.
3-5% rates are the norm The rates at .125 to 1% were the abnomally Companies had business plans based on rates that were not normal long term and now they will suffer for it