While such a scenario could indeed play out over the next nine months, it is not our current base expectation.

While the economy is expected to advance at a modest pace this year, we do expect it to move higher. Currently we anticipate an increase of 2.5 – 3.5% for the year.

An acceleration in growth is projected to start this quarter as the economy bounces back from an anemic first quarter growth rate of 1.0 – 2.0% with a reading of 2.5 – 3.0% for the second quarter.

A prospective counter to our outlook for the economy is the prospect for recession due to the recent inversion of the U.S. Treasury yield curve. While a recession does frequently follow an inversion in the yield curve, it does not typically occur immediately.

Looking at historical inversions involving 2-year and 10-year Treasury issues going back to 1965 reveals a median elapsed time between curve inversion and recession inception of 20 months. The shortest inversion to recession period was seven months in 2019. And we can all agree that the onset of the coronavirus pandemic was the most significant factor in creating the ensuing recession in that instance.

Supported by a backdrop of forecast expansion we also anticipate earnings and revenue growth in 2022 albeit at more modest rates than those achieved last year. Close attention will be paid to prospective revisions in the estimate for these two measures as we move further into 2022.

A moderating level of inflation has been part of our outlook for some time and as evidenced by recent readings, the expected deceleration has not yet arrived. We still anticipate core inflation will moderate in the second half of 2022. This expectation is based on a slowing economy due to subdued consumer spending on non-necessities, an increase in labor supply which will help slow future increases in wage growth, and the impact that higher interest rates are already having on industries like housing.

Not since 1980 has the quarterly return for investment grade bonds been lower than the -6.1% recorded this past quarter.

Back then, inflation topped 14.4% before declining to under 3% within three years.

Today, bond investors find themselves in the upward swing portion of the inflation cycle watching their real return discounted further by rising inflation driven by new supply shocks and geopolitical events.

Reacting, bond investors asked for more future income in the form of higher yields which is accompanied by lower prices.

Trying to avoid the experiences of past inflation spirals, the Federal Reserve (Fed) looks to be on a path toward more aggressive policy rate increases to slow economic growth and tamp down long-term inflation expectations.

In March, the Fed voted to lift the overnight borrowing rate by 0.25% to 0.50% for the first time since cutting the rate from 1.75% to 0.25% in March 2020.

Fed board members have further signaled that more aggressive actions, including rate increases in increments of 0.50%, may be necessary at upcoming meetings along with a quickening pace of quantitative tightening (QT). QT is the process where the Fed shrinks the asset side of its balance sheet by not reinvesting maturing bond holdings and in turn making equal reduction to its reserves or money supply.

This QT process will impact longer maturity asset prices, especially agency mortgage bonds, as the Fed reduces its mortgage-backed holdings from over $2.0 trillion or about 30% of total outstanding mortgage market.

Facing rising borrowing costs, corporate borrowers rushed to market numerous new debt offerings as March became the fourth largest monthly new issue month on record.

Rising supply and rates provided the backdrop for the -7.7% year-to-date return for the corporate bond sector as well as a fourth consecutive month of declining returns, a trend not seen in two decades.

Along with our equity team, we have a positive outlook for corporate balance sheets, so we are favoring the corporate bond sector while simultaneously adjusting our duration based upon risk of further rate increases.

The yield of municipal investment grade bonds is often compared to U.S. Treasury yields to evaluate their relative value.

For the last year, this indicator signaled that municipal bond markets were overpriced, as investors plowed unspent savings into tax advantaged holdings.

That changed in the first quarter, as this sector saw investor outflows and strong new issue supply that led investors to ask for more yield to take on newly minted bonds. Municipal bonds recorded a -6.2% return as this sector moved from overpriced to fair price relative to other bond sectors.

Finally, as unrealized losses appear on account statements, it’s good to remember why bonds are such a common portfolio component. In an uncertain world, it’s good to know what you are earning from the day you buy, and second, unrealized losses disappear as a bond approaches maturity.

The streak is over. After seven consecutive quarters of positive returns, the first quarter of 2022 gave us a return of -5.0% for the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.

Underperformance was broad based, as every sector but energy and utilities was down for the quarter. The communications services sector led underperformance, down 12% in the quarter.

Energy, the best performing sector, was up 39%. A sharp increase in the price of oil in the first quarter was the biggest contributor to its strong performance. The spread between the best and worst performing sectors was 50 percentage points, which is very significant.

Decreasing confidence in the ability of companies to sustain the growth they have seen from 2020 to present was also a contributor to negative returns.

Value outperformed growth with the MSCI USA Value Index return of -2.0% and MSCI USA Growth Index at -9.1%. Over the prior 40 quarters, the growth index had outperformed the value index close to 70% of the time.

Size was a positive indicator of performance as bigger companies performed better than smaller companies. The MSCI USA Large Cap Index was down 5.5%. The Mid Cap Index was at -6.1%. The worst-performing segment based on size was small cap, down 6.2%.

U.S. markets fared better than international markets. The MSCI All Country World ex USA Index was down 5.3% over the period. Russia was one of the largest underperformers, with the Russia RTS Index down 35.23% in the quarter. The Index reopened on March 24 after a February 25 closure at the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The opening was limited to 33 stocks. Transactions have been limited to domestic trading. Foreigners continue to be prevented from selling their shares. And no short selling is allowed.

China’s equity markets also continued to be weak this quarter. The Shanghai Composite and Shenzhen SE Composite were down 10.2% and 16.0% respectively. The underperformance in Chinese markets comes as the government fights a new surge of COVID cases. Lockdowns in Shanghai and other cities have impacted production negatively.

Major European countries have been rocked by sharp increases in energy costs and supply concerns. For example, 40% of the natural gas consumed in the European Union is supplied by Russia. The MSCI Europe Index was down 7.9% in the quarter. Germany, the largest consumer of Russian gas, has seen its equity markets face some price pressures as evidenced by the quarterly return for the DAX Index which was down 8.6%.

2022 is already proving to be a much different year from 2021. We do not expect equity markets to see the same kinds of returns as in 2021.

Changes in monetary policy executed by the Federal Reserve (Fed) is expected to contribute to more muted growth. Fed action comes as they seek to bring inflation down to their 2% target.

Companies are unlikely to pass on the full impact of price increases to customers.

This will likely contribute to some margin compression.

Increasing labor costs also have the potential to erode margins. Extended supply chain issues will continue to have a negative impact on earnings. However, despite the obstacles, growth is expected with earnings expected to rise 9.4% through 2022.

Sales are expected to be up 8.8%, and growth in earnings and sales are expected to impact market performance positively.

Source: BTC Capital Management, Bloomberg LP, Ibbotson Associates, FactSet, Refinitiv.
The information provided has been obtained from sources deemed reliable, but BTC Capital Management and its affiliates cannot guarantee accuracy. Past performance is not a guarantee of future returns. Performance over periods exceeding 12 months has been annualized.

The information within this document is for information purposes only and is not intended as an offer or solicitation with respect to the purchase or sale of any security. Statements in this report are based on the views of BTC Capital Management and on information available at the time this report was prepared. Rates are subject to change based on market and/or other conditions without notice. This commentary contains no investment recommendations and you should not interpret the statement in this report as investment, tax, legal, and/or financial planning advice. All investments involve risk, including the possible loss of principal. Investments are not FDIC insured and may lose value.