: Recognized as a "safe haven," this fund maintained consistent returns by focusing on capital preservation during the market's swings.
: The yield reached a peak of 3.2373% in early November 2018, its highest level since 2011, before equities volatility drove investors back into bonds for safety. best bonds to buy 2018
: Known for its active management, this fund continued to outperform the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate bond index through superior credit selection. : Recognized as a "safe haven," this fund
: These were the clear winners of 2018 because their low duration made them less sensitive to interest rate hikes. While the broader intermediate market saw losses of roughly 0.50%, the short-term category managed a modest gain of 0.92%. Aggregate bond index through superior credit selection
The bond market in 2018 was defined by and significant volatility , making it a challenging year for fixed-income investors. The Federal Reserve consistently hiked short-term rates, which pressured prices across the board and led many traditional intermediate-term bond funds to lose value.
: This fund led the municipal category, returning over 6.7% in a year where many benchmarks were flat.