Bloomberg ETF Analyst: Bonds Fail to Hedge Stock Declines Again, Money Market Funds and Buffer ETFs See Inflows Increase

Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas posted on X, stating that bonds have once again failed to hedge against stock declines. Since SPY retreated from its June highs, AGG, TLT, and LQD have all fallen. Although the time window is relatively short, it somewhat resembles the situation in 2022. He noted that many people have long relied on the 40% bond portion of the 40/60 portfolio to hedge against the 60% equity portion, which is also the reason behind the significant inflows into money market mutual funds and buffer ETFs.

He further stated that this is not to say bonds will never hedge against stocks in the end, but their recent track record is less than ideal. The Fed's long-term rate cuts once pushed both bonds and stocks higher simultaneously. In 2022, when rates were unexpectedly hiked, both fell in tandem. Recently, rising crude oil prices have fueled inflation concerns, leading to a similar scenario once again.