Navigating the Year-End Stock Market Worries: Protecting Against the Biggest Risk

Stock investors are facing a growing list of risks heading into the fourth quarter, including rising interest rates, a possible revival of inflation, and gridlock in Washington. The Federal Reserve's rate-hiking mode and the prospect of $100-a-barrel oil are reigniting inflation concerns. With the central bank's interest-rate target already at a 22-year high and likely to go higher, Treasury yields have reached levels not seen in at least a dozen years, creating the need for investors to search for protection. Some analysts remain optimistic about the economy's momentum, while others express concerns about a potential recession.