May 2022 Commentary
The British pound sterling-denominated iBoxx indices extended losses in May but at a slower pace than in previous months. Yields on iBoxx GBP Indices rose across the board, with the duration slipping lower. Over the course of the month, the short maturities halted losses, with some sectors flipping into positive territory.
However, the longer maturities and government-issued bonds remained under pressure. The iBoxx GBP Gilts Index, reflecting government bonds, returned -3.28% last month, with the biggest monthly declines concentrated in the long-dated maturities, amid fears of stagflation in the economy.
Earlier in May, the Bank of England’s governor, Andrew Bailey, said the U.K.’s central bank had limited tools at its disposal to limit further inflation hikes, which rose to new highs in the April reading released mid-May.
In the corporate space, Utilities, which tends to include more leveraged companies, saw the lowest monthly returns, at -2.39%. Consumer Services was not far behind, with worries of economic slowdown looming.
