The Weekly Fix

Hosted by RBC Global Asset Management (U.S.) Inc.

Business Investing

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133

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Jun 2026

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About the show

Today’s markets move fast. To keep you up to speed each week, Andrzej Skiba, CFA, Head of BlueBay U.S. Fixed Income at RBC Global Asset Management, and members of his investment team will deliver forward looking market commentary and insights into what’s driving fixed income markets over the coming week.

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June 16, 20263 min

The AI job shock nobody’s talking about

The Fed's dual mandate faces unique challenges as artificial intelligence (AI) adoption creates new uncertainty around employment and rate trajectory.Tim Leary, Senior Portfolio Manager on RBC GAM's BlueBay U.S. Fixed Income team, examines how AI-driven economic transformation is reshaping the outlook for rates and credit markets.Strong fundamentals support elevated rates - US gross domestic product (GDP) growth fueled by AI capex, low unemployment, solid corporate earnings, and consumer cash balances higher than pre-COVID levels across all income bands (even after adjusting for inflation).AI adoption uncertainty is the critical unknown - The Fed's dual mandate of full employment and price stability will inevitably be tested as AI reshapes the job market, creating unpredictability in both economic direction and rate trajectory.High yield offers a potentially compelling income opportunity - With rates elevated and portfolios shorter in duration, investors are increasingly attracted to the steady cash flow that high yield can provide in today's environment.

June 9, 20264 min

When AI becomes an infrastructure debt story

Capital formation replaces innovation as AI's next frontier: a new $85B raise and $1.5 trillion financing gap signal that hyperscaler balance sheets alone cannot fund the infrastructure buildout, forcing debt into utilities, private credit, and securitized markets.Anne Greenwood, Institutional Portfolio Manager on RBC GAM's BlueBay U.S. Fixed Income team, examines how AI is transitioning from a technology story to a capital markets story, and why this shift matters for fixed income investors navigating the next phase of infrastructure financing.AI's capital requirements now exceed what even the most profitable tech companies can self-fund, forcing a migration into investment-grade bonds, utility debt, infrastructure finance, and private credit markets.A major technology company’s $85B equity raise signals a fundamental shift where access to capital becomes as critical as access to technology, echoing historical patterns from railroads to fiber networks.Fixed income investors face a critical question: will AI monetization arrive fast enough to prevent an overleveraged ecosystem, or are we witnessing the early stages of a new infrastructure debt regime?

June 2, 20265 min

The mortgage market’s quiet revolution

Built for this moment: Mortgage-backed securities are earning their place in fixed-income portfolios amidst an uncertain rate environment.Teri Savage, Senior Trader on RBC GAM's BlueBay U.S. Fixed Income team, unpacks how securitized sectors are navigating sticky inflation and shifting Fed expectations.Agency mortgages continue to act as a vital defensive anchor for portfolios during periods of broader macro uncertainty. The upward move in 30-year mortgage rates reflects a market transitioning to a higher-for-longer narrative regarding monetary policy. With contained net supply and stable prepayments, mortgage spreads present a highly compelling alternative to corporate credit.

May 19, 20264 min

Stocks up, bonds down, and the Fed's not moving

Prolonged Middle East tensions drive aggressive bond selloffs across global markets, but strong corporate earnings and elevated yields keep high yield resilient amid broader fixed income volatility.Andrzej Skiba, Head of BlueBay U.S. Fixed Income, explores how geopolitical fatigue is reshaping market dynamics, the widening Fed-ECB policy split, and why high yield continues to outperform amid bond market turbulence.Geopolitical standoff in the Middle East is wearing thin on markets, driving aggressive bond selloffs as inflation fears mount despite underlying US economic resilience.The Fed-ECB monetary policy divide is widening, with Europe likely facing inevitable rate hikes while the Fed maintains a cautious hold stance and watches incoming data.High yield stands as the year's clear fixed income winner, supported by strong corporate earnings, elevated yields providing carry cushion, and AI-driven market momentum.

May 12, 20264 min

AI concentration risk: don’t get over hype-scaled

The rapid AI infrastructure buildout draws capital from bonds, banks, and utilities – creating potential for concentration risk exposure.Neil Sun, Portfolio Manager on RBC GAM's BlueBay U.S. Fixed Income team, breaks down how Artificial Intelligence (AI) infrastructure funding is reverberating throughout public and private credit markets. Hyperscalers are tapping public bonds, private infrastructure capital, and bank construction loans simultaneously—turning what looks like diversified exposure into overlapping bets on the same AI buildout theme.Banks and utilities are ramping up debt issuance, as utilities fund rising power demands and banks manage expanding balance sheets, compounding market pressure across sectors.What once appeared as well-diversified cross-sector allocations may now represent concentrated exposure to a single mega-theme, as the AI buildout channels through every corner of the credit market.

May 5, 20263 min

Unprecedented Fed discord signals uncertain road ahead

Historic Fed discord meets Middle East uncertainty: The most dissenting votes since 1992 expose deep divisions as geopolitical risks and energy prices complicate the path forward for U.S. monetary policy.Laurie Mount, Portfolio Manager on RBC GAM's BlueBay U.S. Fixed Income team, breaks down last week's Fed meeting where rates held steady, but unprecedented internal disagreement and Middle East tensions introduced new market volatility.Fed members showed record division on policy direction—the first time since 1992 the committee has revealed such internal disagreement, with markets reacting swiftly to the unexpected discord.Middle East conflict now officially factors into Fed thinking, with the statement acknowledging geopolitical uncertainty and rising global energy prices as key considerations for future policy decisions.Leadership transition unfolds as Kevin Warsh's nomination advances through the Senate while Chair Powell commits to staying on as governor temporarily amid legal pressures facing the institution.

April 28, 20264 min

Income without illusion: navigating late-cycle credit markets

A fragile equilibrium in fixed income: high yields persist despite tight conditions, creating potential opportunities for disciplined credit selection.Anne Greenwood, Institutional Portfolio Manager on RBC GAM's BlueBay U.S. Fixed Income team, examines how elevated yields and tight spreads create a deceptively simple market environment that may reward active security selection and quality upgrades.Attractive yields meet tight conditions: credit markets currently offer equity-like income levels, but the cushion against market volatility is thinner than historical norms suggest.Selectivity becomes essential in late-cycle markets. With real differences emerging between strong and weak performers, choosing the right securities matters more than riding broad market trends.Upgrading credit quality and avoiding overly risky exposures while identifying overlooked opportunities helps investors capture income without overextending.

April 21, 20264 min

Patience required: navigating US fixed income's inflation peak

Current energy shocks collide with restrictive monetary policy, creating a different challenge for fixed income investors than 2022. Mindy Gudmundson, Institutional Portfolio Manager on RBC GAM's BlueBay U.S. Fixed Income team, examines how today’s potential inflation shock differs from a few years ago, and why timing may matter for bond investors positioning ahead of a perceived peak.Today's energy shock hits an economy already operating under tight monetary conditions, creating stagflation risks that contrast sharply with 2022's zero-rate environment. Headline CPI heading toward 4% while growth slows materially below early-year expectations, with consumer sentiment reaching all-time lows amid elevated prices. Curve steepening presents potential opportunity as short rates approach their peak with inflation topping out, while fiscal concerns and growth anxiety pressure the long end.

April 14, 20263 min

Quality carry over market timing

Markets bounced back, but some investors still aren't buying it. Despite the recovery in equities, positioning remains cautious as high yield fundamentals hold firm.Tim Leary, Senior Portfolio Manager on RBC GAM's BlueBay Leveraged Finance team, discusses the evolving dynamics between quality carry and market timing in today's environment.The S&P recovered to flat for the year, yet investors seem to remain split between thinking they missed the rally and expecting another drop.High yield tech companies show stronger balance sheets and more diverse investor interest than their private credit counterparts, despite concerns around AI and private debt.Nearly 90% of the US high yield market carries BB or B ratings, offering potentially consistent income as private credit markets face redemption pressures.

April 7, 20264 min

Between conflict and compromise: finding value amid Middle East volatility

Quality over risk in volatile markets: Middle East tensions are influencing bond investors toward safer U.S. positions while energy prices create challenges across global economies.Andrzej Skiba, Head of U.S. Fixed Income on RBC GAM's BlueBay U.S. Fixed Income team, breaks down how geopolitical events are shaping bond strategies and why regional economic exposures differ significantly.Markets have recovered on hopes for diplomatic progress, though uncertainty around Iran negotiations remains given strategic considerations over key shipping routes.So far, U.S. economic exposure appears more limited due to energy independence, while Europe and Asia may face heightened recession risks from energy price pressures.Investment approach emphasizes high-quality U.S. bonds over riskier options, with selective credit criteria and protective strategies to manage current market conditions.