Russell 2000 hits record high on Trump policy, Fed rate-cut optimism

BY Reuters | ECONOMIC | 10:38 AM EST

(Reuters) - The Russell 2000 index tracking small cap companies in the U.S. hit a record high on Monday, boosted by expectations of tax cuts under a second Donald Trump administration, along with the prospect of lower borrowing costs. The index hit an all-time high of 2,458.9913 and was last up 2.1%, eclipsing the previous high it touched three years ago. The index has gained more than 8% since the Nov. 5 U.S. presidential election. Expectations that Trump, along with a Republican Congress, can make good on his promise of lower taxes, import tariff hikes and less rigid regulations have been the latest tailwinds for this group of stocks.

Small cap companies have been in the spotlight since the U.S. Federal Reserve commenced its monetary policy easing cycle in September, as investors expect them to perform better in a low-interest-rate environment.

(Reporting by Purvi Agarwal and Johann M Cherian in Bengaluru; Editing by Pooja Desai)

In general the bond market is volatile, and fixed income securities carry interest rate risk. (As interest rates rise, bond prices usually fall, and vice versa. This effect is usually more pronounced for longer-term securities.) Fixed income securities also carry inflation risk and credit and default risks for both issuers and counterparties. Unlike individual bonds, most bond funds do not have a maturity date, so avoiding losses caused by price volatility by holding them until maturity is not possible.

Lower-quality debt securities generally offer higher yields, but also involve greater risk of default or price changes due to potential changes in the credit quality of the issuer. Any fixed income security sold or redeemed prior to maturity may be subject to loss.

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