During the Portsmouth Supplemental Retirement Board meeting on November 2, 2023, significant discussions centered around the current economic landscape and its implications for the retirement fund's investment strategy. A key focus was the recent rise in interest rates, attributed to strong economic performance, particularly a robust GDP growth of 4.9% in the third quarter.

Board members highlighted concerns regarding the sustainability of U.S. debt, noting that the government continues to issue substantial amounts of money, which has led to a downgrade of U.S. debt by a major rating agency. The treasury's borrowing estimates for the fourth quarter are projected at an alarming $816 billion, raising questions about market absorption of such high levels of debt.

Despite these challenges, the bond market has shown resilience, with 10-year treasury yields hovering around 5%. This level of return is seen as potentially attractive to investors, suggesting that there may be opportunities for fixed-income investments moving forward. The board anticipates that, if current trends continue, the total rate of return on bonds could yield low to mid-single-digit returns by the end of 2024, which would positively impact the retirement portfolio.

The meeting underscored the importance of closely monitoring economic indicators and adjusting investment strategies accordingly to ensure the long-term health of the retirement fund. As the board prepares to dive deeper into portfolio performance, these discussions will play a crucial role in shaping future decisions.