Major challenges for the public finance industry abound but rising interest rates is the largest concern for business in 2022, market participants said in a Bond Buyer/Arizent Research survey. Nearly 60% of respondents said rising interest rates are their biggest worry, followed by regulatory requirements or changes at 45% and a lack of face-to-face communication and market volatility at 37% and 36%, respectively. Ongoing threats from the coronavirus, inflation and legislative inertia on muni issues in Washington, among other factors, also led a majority of those in municipal finance to believe a full economic recovery won’t be reached until at least July. … “We’ve had an unprecedented era of low rates,” said Stephen Akin, founder of Akin Investment, a registered investment advisor. “Inflation really could get away from the Federal Reserve; it’s not out of the realm of possibility.” … At least three rate hikes are expected in 2022, with some analysts anticipating a fourth.
Source: The Bond Buyer
