Pimco favours inflation protected bonds

Singapore

PACIFIC Investment Management Co (Pimco) is recommending Treasury Inflation Protected Securities (TIPS) even as tumbling oil costs prompt Federal Reserve officials to voice concern that US consumer prices are stagnating.

An inflation rate that is stuck near zero combined with crude at a 12-year low are driving speculation that the Fed will delay raising interest rates. The odds that the Fed will follow its December increase with at least one more in 2016 have fallen to 76 per cent from 93 per cent on Jan 1, futures contracts show.