Midyear Outlook for Equities & Fixed Income
About this lesson
In this episode, Collin Martin and Liz Ann Sonders focus on the outlook for equities, fixed income, and the overall U.S. economy in the second half of 2026. They begin by discussing recent inflation data, noting that while CPI remains elevated, core inflation came in slightly better than expected. Both agree inflation is not quickly returning to the Fed's target, but easing expectations and stable inflation expectations suggest the Federal Reserve can remain patient for now. The key risk is whether higher prices, especially at the pump, begin to erode consumer spending, as real wages have turned negative year over year. From a policy perspective, Collin expects the Fed to stay on hold through year-end, despite the fed funds futures market pricingin a potential hike. He emphasizes that short-term yields should remain steady, while longer-term Treasury yields may stay elevated due to persistent inflation, heavy Treasury issuance, and global rate pressures. In this environment, he suggests favoring short-to-intermediate bond durations and selectively considering credit risk via investment-grade corporates, high yields, and preferred securities. Liz Ann focuses on the outlook for equity investors, highlighting a shift back to a negative correlation between bond yields and stocks—more characteristic of inflation-driven regimes. Her midyear forecast points to a solid economic backdrop, led by resilient GDP growth, strong capital spending tied to AI, and a healthy labor market, though some early warning signals are emerging in survey-based employment data. The episode closes with a cautious but constructive outlook: no immediate recession signals, but investors should consider prioritizing diversification, risk management, and periodically rebalancing as markets navigate inflation, policy uncertainty, and evolving leadership trends. On Investing is an original podcast from Charles Schwab (https://schwab.com) . For more on the show, visit schwab.com/OnInvesting (https:
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