Interest rates are now up about 1% from their rock bottom lows of a few months ago. The inevitable interest rate increase from all-time lows is continuing. Investors have continued to sell stocks and bonds following the Federal Reserve meeting last week. It seems that if the economy performs as expected, then the Fed plans to taper its bond purchases later this year. Over the past few years, the Federal Reserve bond purchase program has helped mortgage rates decline to historically low levels. This occurrence has lifted the stock market. So any sign of the withdrawal of stimulus has hurt both stocks and bonds. Read the rest of this entry »