Investors in search of a haven for cash still have attractive options available – even as the market becomes more certain that the Federal Reserve is done with its rate hikes. Marcus by Goldman Sachs and Synchrony Financial each raised the annual percentage yield on their 1-year certificates of deposit to 5.3% this past week, according to an analysis from Wells Fargo. Richer yields for the same length of time are available at Bread Financial , which offers an APY of 5.6%, and LendingClub , which touts an APY of 5.65%. The run higher in yields occurred even as the Fed stood pat on interest rates for a second consecutive time at the conclusion of its November meeting. Even if the central bank were to step back from its monetary policy stance, banks could still see pressure from higher deposit costs as they compete with money market funds and lower cost CDs reprice at higher rates. “During 3Q23 earnings season many of the banks in our coverage universe also pointed to continued upward pressure on deposit costs going forward, even if the Fed is done hiking,” wrote Morgan Stanley’s Betsy Graseck in a client report earlier this week. CDs have the benefit of allowing customers to lock in rates for the life of the instrument, while banks can adjust the rate they pay on savings accounts at any time. Investors hiding in cash-like instruments, including money market funds and savings accounts, face reinvestment risk if interest rates decline. This means they will have fewer places to get a competitive yield. Savers who want the safety of a steady rate for two years also saw yields go up for CDs at select banks this past week. Bread Financial raised its APY to 5.25%. Marcus by Goldman Sachs hiked its APY to 4.85% for its 2-year CD, and Discover Financial boosted its rate to 4.4%. – CNBC’s Michael Bloom contributed reporting.
