While the U.S. economy remains on solid footing, trade war risk, a flattening yield curve and other factors signal recession ahead and warrant portfolio changes.

NEW YORK, Aug. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Guggenheim Investments, the global asset management and investment advisory business of Guggenheim Partners, today provided its Third Quarter 2018 Fixed-Income Outlook, “Tail Risks Are Getting Fatter.”

“Ten-year Treasury yields once again flirting with 3 percent is prompting much handwringing about how high rates can go,” said Scott Minerd, Global CIO and Chairman of Investments. “We have held for some time that the upper range on long rates could be 3.25–3.50 percent. If rates do get there, it will probably be short-lived because the greater possibility is that the yield curve will invert, as 10-year yields will be held down by any number of looming risks.”

These risks include the possibility of an inflationary trade war, increasingly restrictive Federal Reserve policy, a potential fall budget showdown, instability in Europe and emerging markets, saber-rattling with Iran, and the consequences of the midterm elections. The markets have reflected this uncertainty, evidenced by spasms of volatility and repricing in credit markets.

Investors need to be prepared for this shifting environment, said Minerd, as well as a recession that will likely begin in early 2020. “With exogenous factors and Fed policy tightening threatening asset values, the situation calls for a duration underweight, a curve barbell, and a move up in credit quality.”

With this quarter’s outlook, we also release timely and relevant video commentary from Portfolio Manager Adam Bloch and Brian Smedley, head of the Macroeconomic and Investment Research Group.

Among the highlights in the 32-page report and video:

• General investor confusion prevails as the mid-2018 market theme. Investment-grade corporate bond spreads are wider while high-yield corporate bond spreads are tighter since 2017.
   
• The addition of tariffs creates a dilemma for Fed policymakers, who must lean against this inflationary impulse. As a result, our Macroeconomic and Investment Research Group predicts six more rate hikes over the next six quarters, which would put real pressure on U.S. corporates and risk assets.
  
  
• After months of gradual repositioning we have reduced corporate credit exposure to multi-year lows as we see an unfavorable risk/reward tradeoff given tight spreads, escalating trade tensions, and a recession approaching in 2020.
   
• Within corporate credit, our preference for bank loans over high-yield corporate bonds is working in our favor as loans outperformed high-yield corporates for a third quarter in a row.
   
• Our investment-grade team notes that BBB-rated bonds now account for around half of the investment-grade corporate bond universe, up from 30–35 percent 10 years ago. The glut of BBB corporates is cause for concern as they are increasing leverage in a rising rate environment.
   
• Investment-grade corporate spreads remain vulnerable. For example, the rise of passive investors in the investment-grade space also exposes the market to forced selling in the event BBB bonds get downgraded.
   
• Our asset-backed securities (ABS) team continues to uncover value in esoteric commercial ABS, fueling higher yields by capturing information premiums, as opposed to taking additional credit or leverage-based risk. We also believe AA-rated collateralized loan obligations (CLOs) are mispriced and represent compelling value relative to A CLOs.
   
• As the U.S. economy approaches the turn in the credit cycle, our portfolio management team expects liquidity will become a more challenging factor. For this reason, we believe maintaining a reasonable liquidity buffer will grant us the opportunity to pick up undervalued credits when others are forced to sell.

For more information, please visit http://www.guggenheiminvestments.com.

About Guggenheim Investments

Guggenheim Investments is the global asset management and investment advisory division of Guggenheim Partners, with more than $208 billion¹ in total assets across fixed income, equity, and alternative strategies. We focus on the return and risk needs of insurance companies, corporate and public pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, endowments and foundations, consultants, wealth managers, and high-net-worth investors. Our 300+ investment professionals perform rigorous research to understand market trends and identify undervalued opportunities in areas that are often complex and underfollowed. This approach to investment management has enabled us to deliver innovative strategies providing diversification opportunities and attractive long-term results.

1. Assets under management is as of 6.30.2018 and includes leverage of $11.7bn. Guggenheim Investments represents the following affiliated investment management businesses of Guggenheim Partners, LLC: Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC, Security Investors, LLC, Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors, LLC, Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC, Guggenheim Real Estate, LLC, GS GAMMA Advisors, LLC, Guggenheim Partners Europe Limited and Guggenheim Partners India Management.

Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Investments in fixed-income instruments are subject to the possibility that interest rates could rise, causing their value to decline. High yield and unrated debt securities are at a greater risk of default than investment grade bonds and may be less liquid, which may increase volatility.

This material is distributed or presented for informational or educational purposes only and should not be considered a recommendation of any particular security, strategy or investment product, or as investing advice of any kind. This material is not provided in a fiduciary capacity, may not be relied upon for or in connection with the making of investment decisions, and does not constitute a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell securities. The content contained herein is not intended to be and should not be construed as legal or tax advice and/or a legal opinion. Always consult a financial, tax and/or legal professional regarding your specific situation.

This material contains opinions of the author, but not necessarily those of Guggenheim Partners, LLC or its subsidiaries. The opinions contained herein are subject to change without notice. Forward looking statements, estimates, and certain information contained herein are based upon proprietary and non-proprietary research and other sources. Information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but are not assured as to accuracy. Past performance is not indicative of future results. There is neither representation nor warranty as to the current accuracy of, nor liability for, decisions based on such information. No part of this material may be reproduced or referred to in any form, without express written permission of Guggenheim Partners, LLC.

Media Contact
Gerard Carney
Guggenheim Partners
310.871.9208
Gerard.Carney@guggenheimpartners.com

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