Why the Fed's Stubbornness Could Be an Investor's Opportunity
Let’s be frank, Jerome Powell and his colleagues at the Federal Reserve aren't exactly known for their surprises these days. The message from Washington has been drilled into us with the subtlety of a sledgehammer, interest rates are staying higher for longer. For many, this is a cause for groans and nervous glances at their portfolios. But to me, it looks less like a problem and more like a very clear set of instructions.
When the tide of cheap money goes out, you get to see who has been swimming naked. For years, companies could borrow for next to nothing, funding ambitious, and sometimes reckless, growth plans. That party is well and truly over. Now, businesses loaded with debt are facing a nasty hangover of soaring interest costs and shrinking margins. Their pain, however, could be your gain.