Ongoing inflation is more important than a Fed rate cut, says Charles Schwab's Kathy Jones

Market Trends & Inflation - The bond market is heavily influenced by inflation, which is currently around 3% and edging higher, creating a stagflationary environment [3] - Inflation trends, rather than Federal Reserve actions, will primarily drive bond yields over the next 6 to 12 months [4] - There's hesitancy in longer-term bonds globally due to large fiscal deficits and concerns about inflation [6][7] Federal Reserve Policy & Impact - The market has already largely factored in the Federal Reserve cutting rates [2] - Cutting rates while the job market slows and inflation remains high presents a challenging situation for the bond market [3] - The Fed reducing its holdings of longer-term bonds raises concerns about whether private investors can compensate [7] - The possibility of the Fed matching its balance sheet maturities with Treasury issuance could impact long-term bond yields [10] - Quantitative tightening (QT) is important because the Fed's balance sheet management significantly influences borrowing costs [9] Mortgage Rates & Yield Curve - A Federal Reserve rate cut does not guarantee a decrease in mortgage rates; they could remain stable or even increase [4][5] - The yield curve may steepen even as the Fed cuts rates, as longer-term yields are influenced by inflation expectations, growth prospects, and supply and demand [5][6] - It's unlikely that mortgage rates will fall below 6% even after the anticipated Federal Reserve rate cut [8]