4Q 2025 Capital Market Assumptions

While the year began with ever-shifting winds of change from the second Trump administration, these have settled into a more modest headwind. 

KEY UPDATES IN THIS QUARTER'S FORECASTS 

Relative to 3Q 2025, our long-term outlook for fixed income assets is mixed, with sovereigns somewhat higher and lowerquality credits somewhat lower as a continuing rally in risk assets tightened credit spreads:

  • U.S. Aggregate Bonds: Revised to 4.6% from 4.5% last quarter. 
  • U.S. Long Treasury Bonds: Revised to 5.2% from 5.0% last quarter.
  • U.S. High Yield Bonds: Revised to 4.3% from 4.4% last quarter.

Our 10-year forecasts for equity markets declined across regions as last quarter’s 7.7% gain in global equities weighed on valuations:

  • U.S. Large-Cap Equities: Revised to 5.3% from 5.8% last quarter.   
  • International Equities ex-U.S.: Revised to 7.1% from 7.3% last quarter.   
  • Emerging Markets Equities: Revised to 8.1% from 8.4% last quarter.   

Portfolio rebalancing recommendations were limited this quarter. 

For Financial Professional Use Only. Not for use with the public.  

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