We think the worst is yet to come for most risky assets

Although we think that we have now passed this cycle’s peak in long-dated US Treasury yields, we still suspect that investors are underestimating just how far the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates, and how long it will be before inflationary pressures ease sufficiently for interest rate cuts to come onto the agenda. With that in mind, we think that the yields of most “safe” assets will end this year above their current levels. Meanwhile, given our relatively downbeat view of the global economy, we also expect most “risky” assets to see renewed declines, as risk premia climb and disappointing growth in corporate earnings undermines global equities. We think, though, that the outlook for most safe and risky assets is brighter in 2023 and 2024.