2025 got off to a dramatic start with an unexpected jump in bond yields. What has been driving this move and do we expect it to continue? Swaha Pattanaik and Monica Defend, Head of Amundi Investment Institute, explain what’s been happening in the US and UK and explore what these mean for our growth and interest rate forecasts.
Recent inflation numbers are in line with a short pause in the path towards the Fed’s target, yet bond yields have moved sharply higher since the Fed’s big cut. Medium-term inflation expectations – including FOMC member expectations – have moved higher (see chart), but most of the increase in ten-year yields since the election reflects a rise in real rates.
Fixed income markets are navigating diverging central bank approaches, presenting both opportunities and challenges for investors. With elevated yields, robust credit fundamentals, and selective opportunities across asset classes, fixed income offers an attractive landscape heading into the new year.