Finance and economics | The great reversal

Five financial trends that 2022 killed

A year of rising rates has scrambled markets

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 17: Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange during morning trading on November 17, 2022 in New York City. Stocks are expected to fall as the stock market opened with interest rates rising as Federal Reserve officials signal more interest rate hikes to continue to slow down inflation.  (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Image: Getty Images

Financial markets’ nastiest surprises often come when something that is taken for granted is suddenly called into question—whether it’s rising tulip-bulb prices, functioning banks or a lockdown-free existence. Investors had a tough time in 2022. But given how many trends changed direction over the course of the year, the real surprise is that it was not nastier. Here were the most important reversals.

End of cheap money

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