Periodic analysis that identifies those sectors which outperform and those which underperform.
Its purpose is to identify those sectors, going forward, where investors should concentrate their investment decisions.
From time to time questions arise as to relative value and relative performance of various domestic and world markets, along with commodities. The purpose of this section is to answer these questions as they arise.
The natural complement to duration is the extent to which the yield curve will experience non-parallel shifts. The application of trend analysis to yield curve movement provides the insight necessary to make curve decisions.
Ranking in priority only behind the duration and curve shape decisions, volatility analysis is critical in evaluating securities with embedded options (e.g., callable agency bonds and mortgage-backed securities).