Floating rate funds in rising, flat, and falling rate environments The subject of this thread is specifically focused on Floating Rate/Bank Loan funds, in varying kinds of interest rate environments. The thread was started by Junkster, a very well known trader. Several other posters commented, with a variety of investing styles, some similar to Junkster and some very different from Junkster. Before I retired in 2013, my only exposure to FR/BL was as a component of a multisector, nontraditional, or HY bond oef. After I retired, for varying reasons, I increased my exposure to a variety of bond oef categories, including a focused FR/BL fund (SPFLX). Interest rates were not rising during this period of time, and interest rates had been very low for several years. In short, it was a flat interest rate environment. I decided that the SPFLX fund had established an attractive recent performance history, in a flat rate interest rate environment. I made some very attractive returns for several years under these conditions. Yes FR/BL funds, including SPFLX, got clobbered in 2022, as part of a market crash that took no mercy on junk bond funds such as SPFLX. That market crash is over, and we are now a little over a year out since interest rates have gone through a history increase for over a year. Now the Feds want to hold rates steady for an evaluation of the impact of their rate increases--they want to hold down inflation, and avoid a recession if possible. I think it is very feasible that rates will not change much going forward, and it is more likely we will see small and gradual interest rate increases. Under those conditions, FR/BL could be excellent performers for the forseeable future. But everyone can look at their crystal ball, make their own market forecasts, but I don't see any immediate threat to those holding FR/BL and may still be a very good option to those who want to wade in with a portion of their portfolio. I don't think I will be one of them for now, because MMs and CDs are still attractive for a retiree, choosing to stay with very low risk options.
TCAF, an ETF Cousin of Closed Price PRWCX
TCAF, an ETF Cousin of Closed Price PRWCX anybody know inception NAV price?
You will know in less than
10 min (-:).
I have only added it to my Yahoo watchlist. That is why I knew the moment yesterday when its ticker could be recognized by Yahoo. I may add it during the next selloff.
Edit/Add: NYSE is indicating $25.
https://www.nyse.com/quote/ARCX:TCAF
AAII Sentiment Survey, 6/14/23 AAII Sentiment Survey, 6/
14/23
Bullish remained the top sentiment (45.2%; above average) & bearish remained the bottom sentiment (27.7%; below average); neutral remained the middle sentiment (32.
1%; above average); Bull-Bear Spread was +
17.5% (above average). Investor concerns: Inflation (moderating but high); economy; the Fed (hawkish-pause yesterday - 2 more hikes by 2023YE?); dollar; crypto regulations; market volatility (VIX, VXN, MOVE); Russia-Ukraine war (68+ weeks, 2/24/22- ); geopolitical. For the Survey week (Th-Wed), stocks were up, bonds up, oil down, gold up, dollar down. Powell said that rates may not be cut for 2 years. #AAII #Sentiment #Markets
https://ybbpersonalfinance.proboards.com/post/1071/thread
Floating rate funds in rising, flat, and falling rate environments I hope this is pertinent to the discussion. Clipped from Bloomberg today.
Ken Griffin, whose hedge fund churned out a record $16 billion for clients last year, is increasing his focus on credit trading as he braces for a potential US recession.
“We’re much more cautious about 2024,” the billionaire founder of Citadel said in an interview in Hong Kong, adding that the world’s largest economy is unlikely to avoid a downturn that year. “We’ll look at the credit markets as a source of opportunity. Credit should be a meaningful contributor later this year” and next for Citadel, he said.
Griffin said his hedge fund is particularly focused on the high-yield credit market, with a mixture of long and short strategies. He expects the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates once more this year and then pause hikes for an extended period of time. Top Link
TCAF, an ETF Cousin of Closed Price PRWCX Yahoo Finance just started recognizing the ticker
TCAF.
T. Rowe Price Exchange-Traded F (TCAF)
NYSEArca - NYSEArca Delayed Price. Currency in USD
Quote Lookup
0.0000- (-)
At close: 08:00PM EDT
New Listing
TCAF is newly listed on NYSE Arca effective Jun.
15, 2023
https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/TCAF?p=TCAF&.tsrc=fin-srch
TCAF, an ETF Cousin of Closed Price PRWCX
FOMC Statement, 6/14/23 YBB NotesHawkish-hold, so the fed funds remain at 5.00-5.25%, but it could go up by 25-50 bps by 2023YE; the (bank) reserve balance rate is 5.
15%; the discount rate is 5.25%. The pause now is to let the effects of Fed actions so far work given some lag. The 2-yr is a good indicator of where the fed funds may be going. The Fed doesn't want to surprise the markets (so, monitor CME FedWatch). Any Fed rate cuts may not be for 2 years.
The QT continues at -60 billion/mo for Treasuries, -35 billion/mo for MBS. The large Treasury issuance will further reduce financial liquidity. The Fed balance sheet is declining. The Fed is keeping an eye on money-markets. But the Fed only watches the Treasury and fiscal (by Congress) actions.
The economy has slowed. The inflation has moderated but is still high (PCE +4.4%, core PCE +4.7%). The service inflation is sticky. The goal remains average +2% inflation to be achieved without causing much damage the the economy. Soft landing is possible. The labor market is tight and wages will rise, but slower growth will be desirable; labor demand still exceed supply. The consumer spending is also strong. The Fed can only watch the news on labor strikes.
Housing has slowed due to higher mortgage rates and lease renewals have been weak.
Regional banking has stabilized. Credit conditions has tightened. Many small banks have significant CRE exposures and some may have trouble. The Fed is keeping an eye on systemic risks in banks and nonbank financials (that is where problems were during the pandemic).
https://ybbpersonalfinance.proboards.com/post/1070/thread
Floating rate funds in rising, flat, and falling rate environments "The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady Wednesday, but officials signaled they are prepared to raise rates again this year to tame stubborn inflation."
The second part intends to be hawkish to cover their a$$. What matters is actual which was NO CHANGE.
Looking at the
10 year treasury
chart for 7 months shows that several times it got to around 3.8-4% and backed off.
BTW, the volatility table per category is deceiving. We have learned since 2020 that volatility is unpredictable in market meltdowns. Sometimes the indexes which trade during the day show more volatility.
FOMC Statement, 6/14/23 
Does Fido charge to reinvest dividends in a non NTF fund? Many brokerages charge for both buy and sell fund transactions. Back in the dark days (pre-20
19) when most brokerages charged stock commissions, they charged fees on both ends. Should funds be any different?
As I recall, it was in the
1990s that Fidelity first went to a one-way (buy) fee of $75. Schwab took some time to follow before it changed from a $35 two-way fee to a
$76 one-way fee. A few other brokerages gradually followed suit.
Some of the brokerages still charging fees on both ends include:
Vanguard: $20/trade. "Fees apply per trade for all purchases, sales, and exchanges, regardless of order size."
T. Rowe Price: $35/trade. "If you purchased a fund and paid a transaction fee, one will be charged upon its sale ..."
Merrill: $
19.95/transaction. "Applies to buy, sell and exchanges."
FOMC Statement, 6/14/23
Strange VIX, SKEW, SP500 Today, PPI +1.1% (vs exp +1.5%), core PPI +2.8% (vs exp +2.9%). So, if (wholesale) PPI << (retail) CPI, that means future CPI will decline.</blockquote>
Will U.S. equity markets rise or fall after today’s 2 PM FOMC announcement?
Mostly going nowhere today. Unusual lack of volatility in recent days.
Treasuries Flood is Coming I’ve been rolling my 3,6,12-month t-bills while still holding (for me) considerable cash in a VG money market settlement account. It made sense to me given that t-bills are not subject to state tax and I live in a high tax state (NY).