While bond yields have some investors concerned about a squeeze on stocks, others are second-guessing whether low market volatility is too good to be true. Qontigo Managing Director of Applied Research Melissa Brown analyzes the relationship between equities and volatility levels. "Low correlation between stocks tends to drive volatility down, but it's not clear to me, correlations have gone up and volatility has still stayed relatively muted," Brown says to Yahoo Finance, adding: "But then we see some bad news comes out, the already negative sentiment starts to kick in. And then you have everybody heading for the doors because it doesn't look like they've been expecting this bad news that may be coming out." For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Yahoo Finance Live.
Treasury yields orbit 5% just as Fed regulators seek clarity as to whether or not to hike interest rates in the final months of 2023. RBC Capital Markets Head of Rates Strategy Blake Gwinn details the Fed's mindset and why it may seem "very reluctant to continue rising rates." "If longer-term rates are moving up and these mortgage costs and other ways it impacts the economy, if those are starting to get tighter and those financial conditions are tightening on their own, we need to do less," Gwinn explains to Yahoo Finance. Click here to watch the full interview on the Yahoo Finance YouTube page or you can watch this full episode of Yahoo Finance Live here.
The 10-year Treasury yield temporarily crossed above 5% on Thursday following Fed Chair Jerome Powell's comments on inflation and higher for longer interest rates, putting a squeeze on traditional equity markets. Lisa Erickson, U.S. Bank Senior Vice President and Public Markets Group Head, emphasizes a neutral stance on equity investments as markets make sense of consumer resiliency and higher interest rate pressures. "You've got this balance of puts and takes right now, and so we really feel for clients to be neutral to whatever is typically their long-term allocation to equities makes sense," she tells Yahoo Finance For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Yahoo Finance Live.