Domino effect: The asset class risks of a US rate hike

Laura Miller
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Investors across the globe are holding their breath ahead of December's Federal Open Markets Committee (FOMC) meeting, to see if it raises the US interest rates. But is it that big a deal? Potentially. This is why...

US interest rates have been at near zero - 0% to 0.25% - for seven years. But, based on signals from the FOMC, that could all change between 15 and 16 December when the committee next meets. Markets have been jumping around for months at the merest hint of a hike. But with any raise likely to be modest - around 0.25% - what's all the fuss about? Maybe nothing - but maybe a lot, where, like dominoes, each impact could have a knock-on effect.   Potential domino 1: To start with, there is debate about the strength of the US economy. Enzo Puntillo, head of fixed income at GAM In...

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