Escuchar UBS On-Air: Market Moves

The Federal Reserve’s Beige Book has biases. The businesses that provide anecdotal evidence will have an agenda, and the Fed economists who edit the anecdotes into coherence understand the economics of trade. Nonetheless, the latest edition used “uncertainty” 80 times—more than twice the references during the pandemic or the global financial crisis. Erratic policies are having an economic impact, and that seems to have penetrated partisan media bubbles.

How much longer will uncertainty last, and where might it all settle? Burkhard weighs in as investors continue to navigate everything from policy pivots to Fed independence to inflation, and much more. Plus, thoughts on how investors should react to a market recovery (or a deeper downturn). We also check in on the status of the global rotation trade, and gold.

Hear from members of the UBS Chief Investment Office fixed income team as they provide a performance and positioning update across fixed income sub-sectors. Featured are Leslie Falconio, Head of Taxable Fixed Income Strategy Americas, Sudip Mukherjee, Senior Municipal Strategist Americas, Sangeeta Marfatia, Senior Closed-end Fund Strategist Americas, along with Senior Fixed Income Strategists’ Barry McAlinden and Frank Sileo, from the UBS Chief Investment Office.

With investor concerns growing, US President Trump demonstrated the art of the retreat. They stated they had “no intention” of firing Federal Reserve Chair Powell. Trump may not be able to (legally), but markets will still have lingering concerns about Fed independence. Trump also said they would be “very nice” in any trade negotiations with China, raising hopes that the tax burden on US consumer may lessen.

Despite near-term headwinds and elevated volatility, the market dislocation brings opportunities for muni investors. Sudip and Jeannine provide a muni market performance update and share portfolio considerations for muni investors. Featured are Sudip Mukherjee, Fixed Income Strategist Americas, & Jeannine Lennon, Municipal Strategist Americas, UBS Chief Investment Office. Host: Daniel Cassidy