commentary
Inflation and Profitability in the New Economy
U.S. Equity Investor Letter for the Second Quarter of 2022
After hitting an all-time peak on the first trading day of 2022, it’s been all downhill for the S&P 500 index since. In fact, the 19.96% drop through the end of June is the worst first half of a calendar year for the index in over 50 years. Our equity strategies have generally remained true to form during this downturn, with both our flagship Large Cap and Mid Cap strategies losing less than their respective benchmarks in the year-to-date period, though that may be little consolation.
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Madison Client Communication | 2Q 2022
The S&P 500 remained erratic, finishing the second quarter down 16.1%, bringing the year's total to 20.0%. With a 75 basis point increase in June and another one anticipated in July, the Federal Reserve has begun its aggressive monetary tightening to reduce inflation. By the end of the year, the Fed Funds Rate is anticipated to reach 3.38 %. Much of these anticipated movements have been priced in by the bond market, yield curve, and equities markets.
Read MoreMacroeconomic Update - April 2022
Investment Perspectives for Insurance Companies. At an industry conference last month, Madison Portfolio Manager Jeff Matthias shared the following macroeconomic update, including the firm’s thoughts on monetary policy, inflation and unemployment, household and business outlook, risk of stagflation and/or recession, and a general outlook for both the economic and credit cycles.
Read MoreMadison Client Communication | 1Q 2022
After three solid years in the equity markets, the first quarter of 2022 was a vastly different environment. It marked two years of pandemic complications including lost lives, business closures, lower labor force participation, supply chain disruptions, and higher commodity prices. The pandemic has also played a large role in the elevated inflation we are seeing today.
Read MoreMarket Volatility is Back... With Few Places for Investors to Hide
Fixed Income Perspectives for the First Quarter of 2022
Financial markets experienced one of the most volatile periods in years during the first quarter of 2022, even when compared to the dramatic moves as the Covid-19 shutdown unfolded. Spanning equity, commodity, and bond markets, investors found few places to hide. However, after experiencing this rapid repricing, there are reasons to be optimistic going forward.
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Temporary disruption or seismic shift?
Equity Market Perspectives for the First Quarter of 2022
Over 15 months ago, in one of our year-end letters summarizing 2020, we mentioned how so many events were packed into the year; it felt like we experienced a decade’s worth of macro-economic and geopolitical events in one year, including but not limited to, a pandemic, 1960s-style social unrest, a disputed political contest, and extremely volatile stock markets. To that list, we can now add a war involving a major global power.
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Quantitative Tightening vs. Easing
In the fourth quarter of 2021, with the backdrop of increasing inflation, the Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) began the process of withdrawing its monetary support for the U.S. economy. The most delicate element of the plan is likely to be shrinking its record balance sheet (currently about $9 trillion) – something that ended up roiling financial markets the last time policy makers did it.
Read MoreHigh Quality Fixed Income Investing in Today's Environment
Traditionally, high quality fixed income has played three important roles in an investor’s asset allocation: a steady source of safe income, principal preservation, and risk reduction through diversification. Today, due primarily to massive Government intervention in the credit markets, one of those pillars has been weakened – income.
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“Madison” and/or “Madison Investments” is the unifying tradename of Madison Investment Holdings, Inc., Madison Asset Management, LLC (“MAM”), and Madison Investment Advisors, LLC (“MIA”). MAM and MIA are registered as investment advisers with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Madison Funds are distributed by MFD Distributor, LLC. MFD Distributor, LLC is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as a broker-dealer and is a member firm of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. The home office for each firm listed above is 550 Science Drive, Madison, WI 53711. Madison’s toll-free number is 800-767-0300.
Any performance data shown represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Non-deposit investment products are not federally insured, involve investment risk, may lose value and are not obligations of, or guaranteed by, any financial institution. Investment returns and principal value will fluctuate.
This website is for informational purposes only and is not intended as an offer or solicitation with respect to the purchase or sale of any security.
Any performance data shown represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Non-deposit investment products are not federally insured, involve investment risk, may lose value and are not obligations of, or guaranteed by, any financial institution. Investment returns and principal value will fluctuate.
This website is for informational purposes only and is not intended as an offer or solicitation with respect to the purchase or sale of any security.