: 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%.
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. best bonds to buy 2018
: While risky, high-yield bonds often performed better than investment-grade debt during the first three quarters of 2018 due to their higher coupon payments and the narrowing of credit spreads in a growing economy. Standout Bond Funds of 2018 : These were the clear winners of 2018
: This fund led the municipal category, returning over 6.7% in a year where many benchmarks were flat. Based on historical performance reviews
Based on historical performance reviews, these specific funds "proved their mettle" by navigating the year's volatility effectively: