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6.A. - Page 3 of 46 <br />Investment grade bonds faced many uncertainties as economies were shut down and companies grappled <br />with concerns around revenue, profitability, liquidity, and sustainability. The aggressive fed action calmed <br />the credit markets, restored liquidity, and allowed companies to issue record amounts of new bonds. A <br />key element to PFM's strategy was to cautiously maintain overall exposure to the credit sector, <br />emphasizing issuers with strong balance sheets and limited overseas exposure. This strategy benefited <br />the portfolio as investment grade corporates significantly outperformed Treasuries during the second <br />quarter of 2020 and mostly offset the negative underperformance experienced in the first quarter. <br />PFM's investment strategy in the coming months will be to focus on new agency purchases in the <br />maturities beyond three years as yield spreads on short maturities are now back to near pre -pandemic <br />levels. The investment grade corporate market should continue to benefit from the Fed's support moving <br />into third quarter of 2020; yield spreads for shorter corporates are back to near pre -crisis levels, but will <br />continue enhanced due diligence to track individual issuers as they navigate the recovery phase of the <br />Covid pandemic. Taxable municipal bonds are one of the most attractive sectors available for purchase <br />and supply is expected to pick up over the coming months. <br />Interest rates are likely to stay ultra-low through the crisis impacting the portfolio as investments mature <br />and are reinvested in a lower rate environment. The current maturity distribution has less than 6% of the <br />portfolio expected to mature within the next year, but PFM's strategy has been and will be to focus on <br />security safety and liquidity, and they will continue to actively manage the portfolio in an effort to safely <br />achieve market value growth over the long-term. <br />The situation remains fluid and will continue to be until the virus is contained and full economic activity <br />can resume. PFM has provided an in-depth market summary and discussion on their investment strategy <br />and outlook in the attached investment report. <br />FISCAL IMPACT <br />The City's portfolio received $1,788,006 in net interest earnings over the reporting period. All interest <br />earnings are allocated monthly through a preset methodology that spreads earnings to the appropriate <br />funds. Fees for PFM's services during this period were $26,954 and are deducted from the total interest <br />earnings. There is no additional budget appropriation required. <br />ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW <br />This activity is not a project under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as defined in CEQA <br />Guidelines, section 15378, because it has no potential for resulting in either a direct or reasonably <br />foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. <br />Page 3 of 4 <br />City of Redwood City 1017 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, CA. 94063 Tel: 650-780-7000 www.redwoodcity.ore <br />