Market Views

2025 Q2 Capital Market Assumptions

By Marco Aiolfi, John Hall & Lorne Johnson

Key Updates in This Quarter's Forecasts

Our long-term outlook for fixed income assets shifted lower from last quarter, coincident with the decrease in sovereign interest rates in Q1 2025. Adjustments to our 10-year annualized return forecasts include:

  • US Aggregate Bonds: Revised to 4.5% from 5.2% last quarter.
  • US Long Treasury Bonds: Revised to 4.7% from 5.8% last quarter.
  • Global Aggregate Bonds Hedged: Revised to 4.4% from 4.6% last quarter.

Our 10-year forecasts for equity markets outside the US continue to exceed those of large-capitalization US equities, primarily attributable to more favorable valuations, though that differential modestly declined following a quarter in which US equities underperformed global peers:

  • US Large-Cap Equities: Forecasted at 6.2%.
  • International Equities ex-US: Forecasted at 7.9%.
  • Emerging Markets Equities: Forecasted at 9.0%.

This quarter’s portfolio rebalancing recommendations include:

  • Reduction in US Investment Grade Bond allocations.
  • Reduction in US Aggregate Bond allocations.
  • Increase in US REITs exposure.
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Source: PGIM Quantitative Solutions as of 31 Mar, 2025. Forecasts may not be achieved and are not a guarantee or reliable indicator of future results.
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Source: PGIM Quantitative Solutions as of 31 Mar, 2025. Forecasts may not be achieved and are not a guarantee or reliable indicator of future results.

Note: Forecasts may not be achieved and are not a guarantee or reliable indicator of future results

References

Marco Aiolfi

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John Hall

References

Lorne Johnson