With equity markets showing short-term strength despite mixed year-to-date returns, and volatility reemerging after a period of relative calm, investor focus is shifting toward fixed income and inflation-sensitive strategies. Divergences between U.S. and Canadian equity performance, a steepening yield curve, and sharp movements in long-term Treasury yields are contributing to a complex market backdrop. In this report, we examine these cross-asset trends and take a closer look at how traditional long-duration bond exposures like the iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT) compare to alternative strategies such as the Simplify Interest Rate Hedge ETF (PFIX), which may respond differently in today’s interest rate and inflationary environment.