[Strategists Warn: Increasing Likelihood of Rate Hikes Rather Than Cuts by the Fed and Other Central Banks] Odaily Planet Daily News – Despite widespread concerns about inflation triggered by war, there are signs that other factors are also influencing long-term borrowing costs. In the U.S., the so-called 'real yield'—adjusted for inflation—has had a greater impact, indicating that bond investors are worried about more than just price pressures stemming from the Iran conflict. Other driving forces include the potential further expansion of an already massive public debt burden, the impact of the artificial intelligence investment boom, and the increasing likelihood of rate hikes rather than cuts by the Federal Reserve and other central banks. Strategists from ING, Goldman Sachs, and Barclays have all emphasized a common speculation: the recent rise in some long-term yields may not be fully reversed even if inflation driven by rising oil prices subsides. This suggests that even if the conflict ends, market borrowing costs may remain near multi-year highs, continuing to exert pressure on governments and the economy. (Jin10)