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High inflation, rising interest rates, and geopolitical uncertainty crippled the major market indexes last year. The indexes have enjoyed a respite from the turbulence earlier this year. However, since the market has turned volatile again on concerns over the Fed’s potential interest rate hikes, quality ETFs Vanguard Developed Markets Index Fund (VEA), Vanguard International High Dividend Yield Fund (VYMI), and Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF (SPHD) could be wise investments to stay protected.
Before evaluating these ETFs, let’s discuss why the stock market could remain under pressure in the upcoming months.
Although inflation fell for the seventh straight month annually in January, the Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) increased 0.6% for the month and 4.7% year-over-year. The Fed closely tracks PCE to gauge inflation, and the rise in PCE is worrying as it implies that the central bank still has its work cut out.
Minutes from the Fed’s policy meeting held earlier this month show that the officials believe interest rates need to move higher and stay elevated until inflation reaches 2%. This has led many analysts to believe that the Fed will raise the fed funds rate above 5% this year. This could keep the stock market under pressure in the upcoming months.
With the stock market expected to remain volatile, it could be wise for investors to buy ETFs such as…
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