BofA warns market pricing suggests Fed overlooking high inflation

Published 22/09/2025, 14:54
© Pavlo Gonchar / SOPA Images/Sipa via Reuters Connect

Investing.com - Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) has issued a warning that current market pricing indicates investors believe the Federal Reserve is not prioritizing inflation concerns. This sentiment is reflected in the high-yield bond market, where the iShares iBoxx High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (HYG) trades near its 52-week high of $81.28, with a notable year-to-date return of 7.37%.

The bank’s analysis suggests a disconnect between market expectations and inflation reality, with markets pricing "an increasingly lower Fed funds rate by end-2026 despite increasing inflation pricing."

BofA analysts speculate this market behavior might reflect anticipation of "a new dovish Fed chair and/or risks to Fed independence ahead."

The bank cautions that if this market interpretation proves correct, "inflation will most likely remain above the target for the relevant forecasting horizon, potentially feeding into inflation expectations."

According to BofA’s assessment, based on their forecasts and the Fed’s own dot plot projections, inflation will have remained above the central bank’s target for seven consecutive years "and counting."

In other recent news, Morgan Stanley has chosen to maintain its S&P 500 target at 6500, despite anticipating a significant economic slowdown in the latter half of 2024. This target suggests a potential 3% increase from the current levels, which are around 6308. The investment bank has also forecasted an uptick in inflation in the coming months. This expectation is based on the impact of tariff costs on consumer prices, typically observed with a delay of three to four months following tariff implementation. However, the first-quarter front-loading of imports may affect this pattern. These developments are part of Morgan Stanley’s broader analysis of the economic landscape. The bank’s projections reflect their assessment of the current economic conditions and potential future trends. Investors may want to consider these insights when evaluating their strategies.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

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