Skip to main content
PGIM Investments LogoPGIM Investments Logo
  • Funds

    • UCITS Funds by Asset Class
    • Prices
    • Performance
  • Investment Solutions

    • Active Fixed Income
    • Alternatives Investing
    • Carbon Solutions
    • Data Centers
    • Global Real Estate
    • Innovative Growth
  • Thought Leadership

    • Insights
    • Market Outlooks
    • Investment Themes
    • Webinar Hub
    • Proprietary Research
  • Literature
  • About Us

    • About PGIM Investments
    • Awards & Accolades
    • Careers
    • ESG Investing
    • Newsroom

    About our Managers

    • Jennison Associates
    • PGIM Fixed Income
    • PGIM Real Estate
    • PGIM Quantitative Solutions

  • Contact
Now’s The Time for Active Bond Managers
Fixed Income

Now’s the Time for Active Bond ManagersNow’stheTimeforActiveBondManagers

Nov 1, 2024

Share
  • Mail
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Copy URL
  • Print
View Highlights

Share

After more than a year on pause, and after much anticipation, the Federal Reserve lowered interest rates in September, beginning what is expected to be a period of easing monetary conditions. Treasury yields have trended lower and credit spreads have remained tight in response. Although the Fed anticipates two 25 bps cuts through the remainder of the year and another 100 bps of cuts in 2025, that would still leave the policy rate above the Fed’s terminal rate projection of 2.9%. 

The Labour Story Is Driving the U.S. Market

The unemployment rate is rising and traditionally, when the unemployment rate rises, consumption tends to slow. But the U.S. consumer has not been responding in any notable way to the reality that the unemployment rate is up, because they have been working through savings. Should the unemployment rate continue to rise, this may put downward pressure on consumption. We continue to monitor risks associated with a recession, such as the labour market and consumer spending relative to income. 

Asset Allocators Can Count On Bonds Again

The allocation to bonds matters in an asset-allocation construct as bonds act as a good shock absorber around equity corrections. In a hiking cycle, cash is where you want to be in the equity downturn. But that is not the case in a rate-cutting environment. There’s a tendency for bonds to deliver solid risk-adjusted returns when they seem cheap relative to equities, as they do today. Although credit markets do not appear cheap from a broad perspective, we see lots of relative value when digging below the surface. 

The dispersion in the high yield market is the widest that we’ve seen in several decades. The ability to pick the winners and the losers and to use your credit skills in today’s environment, is as robust as we’ve seen in a very, very long time. Some near-term consolidation is possible. But overall, the favourable outlook for fixed income returns over the intermediate-to-long term remains, thanks to rates and spreads that appear range bound or set to decline from current levels.

View Highlights

Topics

  • Fixed Income
  • Outlook
  • Insights

Related Insights

Reviving European Securitisation
Fixed Income

Reviving European Securitisation

May 20, 2025

PGIM Fixed Income explores the European securitised credit market.

Weekly View from the Desk
Fixed Income

Weekly View from the Desk

May 19, 2025

PGIM Fixed Income shares their weekly views and outlook for fixed income markets.

Webinar Replay – Rewriting the Credit Playbook
Fixed Income

Webinar Replay – Rewriting the Credit Playbook

May 14, 2025

PGIM brings together experts from its affiliates to discuss the interplay between public and private credit.

References to specific securities and their issuers are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended and should not be interpreted as recommendations to purchase or sell such securities. The securities referenced may or may not be held in the portfolio at the time of publication and, if such securities are held, no representation is being made that such securities will continue to be held.

The views expressed herein are those of PGIM investment professionals at the time the comments were made, may not be reflective of their current opinions, and are subject to change without notice. Neither the information contained herein nor any opinion expressed shall be construed to constitute investment advice or an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any securities mentioned herein. Neither PFI, its affiliates, nor their licensed sales professionals render tax or legal advice. Clients should consult with their attorney, accountant, and/or tax professional for advice concerning their particular situation. Certain information in this commentary has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable as of the date presented; however, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of such information, assure its completeness, or warrant such information will not be changed. The information contained herein is current as of the date of issuance (or such earlier date as referenced herein) and is subject to change without notice. The manager has no obligation to update any or all such information; nor do we make any express or implied warranties or representations as to the completeness or accuracy.

Any projections or forecasts presented herein are subject to change without notice. Actual data will vary and may not be reflected here. Projections and forecasts are subject to high levels of uncertainty. Accordingly, any projections or forecasts should be viewed as merely representative of a broad range of possible outcomes. Projections or forecasts are estimated based on assumptions, subject to significant revision, and may change materially as economic and market conditions change.

For compliance use only 4004941

  • PGIM Funds

    • Home
    • Contact
    • Newsroom
    • Awards
    • Careers
  • About Us

    • Overview
    • PGIM Fixed Income
    • PGIM Real Estate
    • Jennison Associates
    • PGIM Quantitative Solutions
  • Funds

    • Explore Funds
    • Prices
    • Performance
    • Literature
  • Disclosures

    • Disclosure
    • Cookies and Pixel Tags
    • UK Regulatory Disclosure
  • Insights

    • Latest Insights
    • Webinars
    • Market Outlooks
PGIM Investments Logo
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Help
  • Cookie Preference Center

UCITS HAVE NO GUARANTEED RETURN AND PAST PERFORMANCE DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE FUTURE PERFORMANCE.

For Professional Investors only. All investments involve risk, including the possible loss of capital.

Past performance is not a guarantee or a reliable indicator of future results. 

In the United Kingdom, information is issued by PGIM Limited with registered office: Grand Buildings, 1-3 Strand, Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 5HR. PGIM Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) of the United Kingdom (Firm Reference Number 193418), and with respect to its Italian operations by the Consob and Bank of Italy. In the European Economic Area (“EEA”), information may be issued by PGIM Netherlands B.V., PGIM Limited or PGIM Luxembourg S.A. depending on the jurisdiction.  PGIM Netherlands B.V., with registered office at Eduard van Beinumstraat 6, 1077CZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, is authorised by the Autoriteit Financiële Markten (“AFM”) in the Netherlands (Registration number 15003620) and operates on the basis of a European passport. PGIM Luxembourg S.A., with registered office at 2, boulevard de la Foire, L-1528 Luxembourg, is authorised and regulated by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (the “CSSF”) in Luxembourg (registration number A00001218) and operating on the basis of a European passport. In certain EEA countries, information is, where permitted, presented by PGIM Limited in reliance on provisions, exemptions or licenses available to PGIM Limited under temporary permission arrangements following the exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union. This information is issued by PGIM Limited, PGIM Netherlands B.V. and/or PGIM Luxembourg S.A. to persons in the UK who are professional clients as defined under the rules of the FCA and/or to persons in the EEA who are professional clients as defined in the relevant local implementation of Directive 2014/65/EU (MiFID II). In Switzerland, information is issued by PGIM Limited, through its Representative Office in Zurich with registered office: Kappelergasse 14, CH-8001 Zurich, Switzerland. PGIM Limited, Representative Office in Zurich is authorised and regulated by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA and these materials are issued to persons who are professional or institutional clients within the meaning of Art.4 para 3 and 4 FinSA in Switzerland. In certain countries in Asia-Pacific, information is issued by PGIM (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. with registered office: 88 Market Street, #43-06 CapitaSpring, Singapore 048948. PGIM (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. is a regulated entity with the Monetary Authority of Singapore (“MAS”) under a Capital Markets Services License (License No. CMS100017) to conduct fund management and an exempt financial adviser. In Hong Kong, information is issued by PGIM (Hong Kong) Limited with registered office: Units 4202-4203, 42nd Floor Gloucester Tower, The Landmark 15 Queen’s Road Central Hong Kong. PGIM (Hong Kong) Limited is a regulated entity with the Securities & Futures Commission in Hong Kong (BVJ981) (“SFC”) to professional investors as defined in Section 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 1 of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (“SFO”) (Cap.571). PGIM Limited, PGIM Netherlands B.V. and PGIM Luxembourg S.A., PGIM (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. and PGIM (Hong Kong) Limited are indirect, wholly-owned subsidiaries of PGIM, Inc. (“PGIM” and the “Investment Manager”), the principal asset management business of Prudential Financial, Inc. (“PFI”), a company incorporated and with its principal place of business in the United States. PFI of the United States is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential plc, incorporated in the United Kingdom or with Prudential Assurance Company, a subsidiary of M&G plc, incorporated in the United Kingdom. PGIM, the PGIM logo and the Rock symbol are service marks of PFI and its related entities, registered in many jurisdictions worldwide. PGIM Fixed Income and PGIM Real Estate are trading names of PGIM, a SEC registered investment adviser in the United States. Jennison and PGIM Quantitative Solutions are trading names of Jennison Associates LLC, and PGIM Quantitative Solutions LLC, respectively, both of which are SEC registered investment advisers and wholly owned subsidiaries of PGIM. Registration with the SEC does not imply a certain level or skill or training.

The information on this website is for informational or educational purposes. The information is not intended as investment advice and is not a recommendation about managing or investing assets. In providing these materials, PGIM is not acting as your fiduciary.

Please click on this PGIM Funds plc disclosure linkopens in a new window for important information.

© 2025 Prudential Financial, Inc. (PFI) of the United States and its related entities.

PGIM Investments Logo
PGIM Investments Logo

You are viewing this page in preview mode.

Edit Page