Blake Gwinn, Head of US Rates Strategy at RBC Capital Markets, and Peter Schaffrik, Head of UK/European Rates & Economics, share insights on the evolving macroeconomic landscape. They discuss the high bond yields amidst central bank rate cuts and forecast how the U.S. economy's resilience will shape global fixed income markets in 2025. Key topics include the challenges in Canada's economy due to political shifts, the stagnant euro area's struggles, and Australia's anticipated consumer recovery fueled by fiscal changes.
The resilience of the US economy is expected to influence bond yields and inflation as the Federal Reserve navigates rate cuts.
Canada's economic struggles are compounded by mortgage resets and its dependency on US performance, necessitating possible rate reductions by mid-2025.
Deep dives
US Economic Resilience and Inflation Dynamics
The US economy is showing signs of resilience heading into 2025, supported by strong consumer and business balance sheets, high corporate profitability, and sustained growth. However, the outlook for inflation points to potential upward pressure due to pent-up demand following the recent election and declines in immigration. This situation complicates the Federal Reserve's response, as they continue to cut rates while managing pressures from a recovering economy. The expectation is that the Fed may pause cuts by March 2025, given the possible rise in inflation risks while maintaining a steady labor market.
Challenges Facing the Canadian Economy
Canada's economy is struggling with several headwinds, including painful mortgage resets, dependency on US economic performance, and shifts in immigration policy that threaten growth. With inflation likely to dip below 1% in 2025, the Bank of Canada appears behind the curve in its easing cycle, potentially needing to reduce rates to accommodate a struggling economy. Forecasts suggest a move to lower overnight rates by mid-2025 amidst increased supply in product and labor markets that keeps inflation subdued. Overall, the bond market outlook points toward lower yields with Government of Canada bonds expected to outperform US Treasuries.
UK and European Economic Outlook
The economic outlook for the euro area and the UK remains weaker than desired, characterized by stagnation and low productivity growth. While the Bank of England has cut rates, an expansionary fiscal stance could point to a stronger economy, complicating the return to inflation targets. Regarding bond markets, the ECB is forecasted to maintain rate cuts, yet pressures from quantitative tightening may hinder long-term bond bullishness. The upcoming political changes in Germany and the UK could alter economic policies, but any positive effects on growth are mitigated by persistent inflationary pressures.
Australia's Economic Recovery and Fixed Income Dynamics
Australia's economy is expected to recover modestly in 2025 after a sluggish year, with growth driven by increased household consumption, strong public demand, and signs of stabilization in construction. Challenges such as potential tariffs under a Trump administration pose risks to this recovery, especially regarding trade with China. Although inflation remains a challenge, the Reserve Bank of Australia is likely to initiate modest rate cuts this year in response to a tightening labor market. The bond market outlook suggests lower yields with a potential tightening of Aussie-US spreads as local conditions diverge from those in the US.
For macro and bond investors, 2024 has been challenging. Despite central banks cutting rates, bond yields have remained high, and country-specific macroeconomic factors have heavily influenced allocation strategies. Looking ahead to 2025, returns in global fixed income will largely depend on the trajectory of the U.S. economy and the extent of the Federal Reserve's easing measures. Macro nuances are expected to continue playing a critical role in cross country performance.
Participants:
Jason Daw (Desk Strategy), Head of North America Rates Strategy
Blake Gwinn (Desk Strategy), Head of US Rates Strategy
Peter Schaffrik (Desk Strategy), Head of UK/European Rates & Economics
Su-Lin Ong (Research), Chief Australia Economist
Robert Thompson (Research), Australian Macro Rates Strategist
* Research Analyst opinions are their published views, independent of those expressed by Desk Analysts
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