How low-interest rates offered by banks affect investment process

Interest rates are the cost of borrowing money, and various factors determine them such as the level of economic activity, inflation, and the supply and demand of money. In the past, interest rates have fluctuated widely, with periods of high interest rates followed by periods of low interest rates.

For example, in the early 1980s, interest rates reached as high as 20 percent as the Federal Reserve attempted to curb inflation. However, in recent years, interest rates have been at historically low levels, with the Federal Reserve setting its benchmark interest rate near 0 percent in response to the financial crisis of 2008.

The changes in interest rates have had a significant impact on investing behavior. When interest rates are low, the cost of risk becomes low, and investors, companies, and capital allocators may be more willing to take on risk and may be more likely to invest in stocks and other higher-risk assets in search of higher returns.

The last 15 years has been the longest period of such exceptionally low rates in history. This has changed our thinking of what risk is and where we should park our funds. Millennials have been most affected by this and have had to adapt their investing strategies accordingly.

The Federal Reserve has indicated that it plans to gradually increase interest rates in the coming years as the economy continues to improve. In today's highly globalized economy, the impact of the Federal Reserve's decisions to increase interest rates will be felt worldwide, including in India.

First, as interest rates rise, investors may be less willing to borrow money to finance their investments. This could decrease investment activity as investors become more cautious about taking on debt. As a result, companies may find it more difficult to raise capital, and this could slow economic growth.

Additionally, higher interest rates could also make it more expensive for households to borrow money, which could dampen consumer spending. This could also have negative impacts on the stock market, as investors may be less willing to take on risk in a higher-interest rate environment.

In a rising interest rate environment, the appeal of safer, lower-risk investments like Treasury bonds is likely to increase. Investors may flock to these investments in search of stable returns, which could lead to an increase in demand and a corresponding increase in bond prices.

On the other hand, the appeal of riskier investments like stocks may decrease. With higher interest rates, the returns on these investments may appear less attractive, leading to a decrease in demand and a corresponding decrease in stock prices.

This environment may present some challenges for young investors who are just starting to invest. With higher interest rates, the returns on traditional investment options like stocks and bonds may be lower than they have been in the past. This could make it more difficult for millennials to build wealth and reach their financial goals.

However, there are still ways that millennials can approach investing in a rising interest rate environment to achieve their financial goals. One approach is to focus on long-term investments that are less sensitive to changes in interest rates. For instance, instead of investing in stocks or bonds, millennials may want to consider investing in real estate, which can provide a steady income stream and may be less sensitive to changes in interest rates.

Additionally, millennials may want to consider investing in alternative assets that are not as closely tied to traditional financial markets. For example, they may want to consider investing in cryptocurrencies, which are not directly affected by changes in interest rates. As we move out of a zero-interest rate environment, investors may become more cautious, decreasing investment activity and focusing on the long term by shifting towards lower-risk investments like Treasury bonds on one end, and moving some capital to uncorrelated assets like cryptocurrencies on the other.