AVIOR INSIGHTS – What Higher Oil Prices Mean for Consumers and Markets
A key driver of global markets and inflation over the past two years has been the price of oil. As an important commodity that fuels the economy, investors watch the oil market closely. While oil has fallen considerably from its peak in 2022, it has also rebounded over the last few months. Since mid-June, Brent crude prices have risen over 26%, from around $72 per barrel to above $90. What...
AVIOR INSIGHTS – How the Highest Real Yields Since 2009 Affect Investors
Interest rates have swung wildly over the past two years in response to inflation, economic concerns, and market volatility. After falling as low as 3.3% earlier this year, the 10-year U.S. Treasury is now yielding around 4.2%, back to where it was roughly a year ago. However, while today's long-term yields look similar to last year's on paper, they are quite different from an economic and market perspective. What are...
AVIOR INSIGHTS – Why Investors Need Perspective Amid a Market Pullback, Fears Over China, and More
Financial markets have pulled back in recent weeks due to factors such as rising interest rates and uncertainty in China. So far in August, the S&P 500 has declined 4.8% while the Nasdaq, which consists primarily of technology stocks, has fallen 7.4%. However, this is in the context of a strong rally from March through July during which the S&P 500 gained over 19% and the Nasdaq almost 29%. What's...
AVIOR INSIGHTS – Why Bonds Are Still Essential for Diversified Portfolios
While 2023 has been a better year for bonds after last year's bear market, rising interest rates over the past three months have acted as a headwind. The U.S. Aggregate bond index has gained 0.6% this year, down from a peak return of 4.2% in April. Similarly, corporate bond returns have receded to 1.8% from 5% prior to the banking crisis earlier this year. High yield bonds, which are volatile...