Recent Market Volatility & the Role of Fixed Income

Kathy and Liz Ann catch up on recent market volatility, the Fed's next move, and changes in the economic data. There is some debate about whether the Fed should cut by 50 basis points in September or the expected 25 basis points. They also touch on the importance of inflation, the labor market, and global growth in the Fed's decision-making process. 

Next, Kathy is joined by Matt Hastings, managing director and head of Bond Index Strategies for Schwab Asset Management. He leads the portfolio management team for the Schwab taxable bond mutual funds and Schwab fixed income ETFs and has overall responsibility for all aspects of the management of the funds. They discuss Matt's background in the industry, his role at Schwab, and the challenges of managing fixed income portfolios on a day-to-day basis. 

Matt and Kathy discuss how index tracking works, the vital role of liquidity in the bond market, recent market volatility, and the impact of Fed policy. Matt provides insights into the role of bond funds and ETFs for investors and emphasizes the importance of understanding what you're buying.

Finally, Kathy and Liz Ann provide their outlook for the next week's economic data and market events.

On Investing is an original podcast from Charles Schwab. For more on the show, visit schwab.com/OnInvesting.

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