As the Federal Reserve prepares for this week’s FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) meeting, the turmoil in US regional banks and the European banking system will be a new and uncertain factor. In addition to the question of how an additional rate hike would immediately impact bank balance sheets, there is a broader question regarding the near-to-medium term impact of the current banking problems on the US and global economies. Despite some upward progress for markets early in the year, the S&P 500 Index gave up nearly all its gains for the year after Silicon Valley Bank failed, the second-largest bank collapse in U.S. history. Yields on U.S. Treasuries also tumbled. Investor focus has now shifted to the massive blow some Credit Suisse bondholders will take under the UBS acquisition, which has added to anxiety about other key risks, including contagion and the fragile state of U.S. regional banks. On the wealth planning front, we break down Biden’s budget proposal, aiming to reduce the federal deficit by $3 trillion, or 3%, over the next decade.
Click Here to Read the March 20, 2023, Economic Commentary
Click Here to Read the March 20, 2023, Investment Commentary
Click Here to Read the March 20, 2023, Wealth Planning Commentary
