FICC Focus

Emerging market investors have found the Fed more macro-relevant than China, Russia or Israel in recent weeks, as equities are up, oil is down, spreads have tightened and the US dollar has declined since the war erupted in Gaza. In this month’s EM Lens & Look-Through podcast, Win Thin, senior vice president and global head of foreign-exchange strategy at Brown Brothers Harriman, joins Bloomberg Intelligence’s chief EM fixed-income strategist Damian Sassower to discuss his outlook on EM interest rates and foreign exchange. From the rise in US Treasury volatility to China’s sluggish economic recovery, the opportunities and challenges facing emerging-market economies are also reviewed.

In this episode, experts discuss the impact of central bank tightening on credit and risk assets, as well as the potential effects of the yield-curve inversion. They explore credit fundamentals and flows and discuss the state of the credit market and client sentiment. The availability of credit assets for investors and the potential impact of central bank holdings are examined, along with the projected increase in net supply in European bond markets and its impact on credit. Additionally, the podcast delves into central banks' approach to policy rates, the potential impact of rising rates on credit markets, and the relationship between credit and equity markets.

Our latest FX Moment podcast focuses on changes in US dollar price action and what can be learned when it comes to finalizing 2024 US dollar prospects. Host Audrey Childe-Freeman, Bloomberg Intelligence chief G10 FX strategist, and Jeremy Stretch, Chief International Strategist at CIBC World Markets discuss the dollar-negative narrative that could unfold in 2024, and conclude it won't be an easy ride for dollar bears as long as the Fed holds onto a high-for-long rate language, with Jeremy suggesting that euro-dollar could see a pullback toward $1.02-$1.03 before contemplating a brighter outlook.Audrey and Jeremy also look at the outlook for the Canadian dollar, with the prospect for 2024 Bank of Canada dovishness likely to leave the currency exposed to not only the US dollar, but also vs. the euro and the Aussie dollar.

Distressed debt has risen sharply in the past two weeks, with the outlook increasingly uncertain heading into year-end. Global Credit Strategy head Noel Hebert, BI distressed credit analyst Philip Brendel and BI bankruptcy litigation analyst Negisa Balluku discuss this and other topics in this edition of the State of Distressed Debt podcast. In other topics, Balluku interviews Electric Capital General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer Emily Meyers on the impact of bankruptcies on crypto's regulatory landscape here and abroad, the SEC's recent losing streak in court and Meyers' outlook for legislative progress (7:40). Also, Balluku, Hebert and Brendel discuss Rite Aid, Akumin, WeWork, Incora, Hertz's post-petition interest fight and Diamond Sports (50:10).

The bar has increasingly moved higher for the Bank of England to hike again in this cycle after leaving rates unchanged for the second consecutive meeting. The market is focused on the timing and extent of 2024 rate cuts. In this edition of the All Options Considered podcast, BI's Chief Global Derivatives Strategist Tanvir Sandhu is joined by Dan Hanson, Senior UK Economist. They discuss the BOE, economic outlook and market volatility.

“Our view is that the Fed is done hiking. But the question now turns to how long the Fed maintains rates at this level,” Ira Jersey, Bloomberg Intelligence chief US interest rate strategist says. On this Macro Matters episode of the FICC Focus podcast, Jersey reviews recent developments following the November FOMC meeting and the Treasury department’s quarterly refunding announcement. He says Chair Jerome Powell sounded more dovish than he had at previous meetings, but still anticipates the Fed holding rates at current levels through 2024. Jersey also highlights a framework for how the quantum of Treasury debt may affect yields at differing levels of economic growth.

Armen Panossian, managing director and incoming co-CEO for Oaktree Capital Management, discusses private-credit growth, high-yield opportunities, expected impacts from an economic slowdown, and more. They explore various markets within private credit, opportunities in high-yield bonds and distressed debt, the impact of rising interest rates on debt servicing, and the transition from high yield to private credit.

“There’s always an opportunity at the issuer level in leveraged finance,” Bryan Whalen, co-chief investment officer and a generalist portfolio manager for TCW’s fixed income group says. Whalen joins Bloomberg Intelligence’s Noel Hebert and Sam Geier on this episode of the Credit Crunch podcast to discuss positioning for economic turbulence across core-plus and high yield, the value proposition in mortgage-backed securities and why corporate credit spreads look tight.

Emerging market risk premia is on the rise, as higher geopolitical risk amplifies the impact from tighter financial conditions. In this month’s EM Lens & Look-Through podcast, JPMorgan Managing Director of EM Fixed Income Strategy Saad Siddiqui joins Chief EM Fixed Income Strategist Damian Sassower to deliver his outlook on emerging market interest rates and foreign exchange. From the selloff in US Treasuries to rising oil prices and China's struggling economic recovery, we discuss the opportunities and risks facing EM investors.

Rates are higher (for longer, if we’re being honest), the curve is pancaking and, once again, fixed-income losses will be headline fodder. However, with every tick higher in benchmark yields, municipals get an opportunity that many in the asset class won’t see in a career. For those investors focused on building an income stream and less on immediate statement marks, munis are becoming the must-have accessory for this fall season. James Pruskowski, chief investment officer and head of the Global Client Business at 16Rock asset management, joins Eric Kazatsky and Karen Altamirano this month to discuss the latest run-up in rates, the macro headwinds buffeting the market and what technological change in munis may look like.