Markets react to the Iran conflict beneath calm indexes

In this episode, Liz Ann Sonders welcomes Collin Martin as her new co‑host. Collin outlines his role as Schwab’s head of fixed income research and strategy, highlighting his broad coverage of the bond market—from Treasuries and Fed policy to corporate credit, municipals, mortgages, and global bonds. 

The conversation then turns to markets and geopolitics, focusing on the ongoing conflict involving Iran and its market impact. Liz Ann explains that while major equity indexes have appeared relatively resilient, this masks significant volatility beneath the surface. She notes sharp rotations across sectors, wide drawdowns among individual stocks, and heightened churn driven by shifting narratives—ranging from AI disruption concerns to war‑related energy shocks. 

Collin connects these equity dynamics to fixed income, explaining why Treasury yields have risen rather than fallen despite geopolitical uncertainty. Elevated oil prices and rising inflation expectations have pushed yields higher, countering the typical “flight to safety” dynamic. He also highlights how shifting Fed expectations are influencing bond markets and raises the key uncertainty: whether prolonged conflict could eventually tilt the focus from inflation risk to economic growth risk, potentially reversing yield trends.

On Investing is an original podcast from Charles Schwab. For more on the show, visit schwab.com/OnInvesting. 

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