“The Fed’s September hike was primarily an insurance and credibility measure. Significant geopolitical uncertainty and scrutiny from bond markets could influence its actions going forward.”
The US Federal Reserve’s decision to raise interest rates by a quarter percentage point this month marks a significant shift in monetary policy as the central bank seeks to dampen war-induced inflationary pressures. Although it is the first time the Fed has hiked rates since July 2023, in some respects it represents a return to normal after many years of artificially low borrowing costs.
Whether long-term interest rates will remain above their post pandemic high is an open question. The 10-year Treasury rate hit highs of 4.98% in October 2023 and 4.77% in January 2025. For those concerned about duration exposures and the valuation impact of higher rates on financial assets in general, real estate credit may offer a useful tool for managing this exposure.