Higher Energy Prices Fueled Equities More than Bonds

Higher energy prices have benefited developed-market energy-sector equities, generally, as illustrated by the fact that the MSCI USA Energy Index and the MSCI Europe Energy Index have significantly outperformed their respective broader market benchmarks, year to date through March 11. Investment-grade energy-company bonds, on the other hand, have not benefited as much from this tailwind, as the credit-spread expansion in the exhibit below shows.

While equity and corporate-bond returns of the same issuer have historically been positively correlated over the long term, this relationship may break down over shorter periods.¹ One reason for the latest divergence may be the expectation that near-term earnings windfalls may accrue disproportionately to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks.¹ Additionally, while both energy-company equities and corporate bonds were positively affected by higher energy prices in the near term, bonds (especially those from European issuers) have been negatively affected by the rising risk of default reflected in the widening credit spreads, due to the ongoing developments of the Russia-Ukraine war.