All Asset Class Reports articles – Page 21
-
Asset Class Reports
High-yield Bonds & Loans: Slow but steady progress
While some European countries are making progress with respect to non-bank funding for mid-market businesses, others still have some way to go. Yet there is a growing appetite for the standardisation and transparency required to develop this market, write Alexandra Krief and Taron Wade
-
Asset Class Reports
Time for some caution with this asset class
How do you invest in high-yield bonds and loans?
-
Asset Class Reports
High-yield Bonds & Loans: Floored argument
More and more loans are being written with interest rate floors, at lower and lower rates. While these were a great feature over the past five years, Charlotte Moore asks whether they weaken investors’ floating-rate protection for the next five years
-
Asset Class Reports
High-yield Bonds & Loans: Low yields, high alpha
With spreads so tight, high-yield has become even more of a bottom-up stockpickers’ market than usual. Martin Steward looks for themes in the top-performing portfolios
-
Asset Class ReportsHigh-yield Bonds & Loans: Revolution from above and below
Few markets outside the emerging world have changed to the extent that European high-yield has over recent years. Joseph Mariathasan and Martin Steward find transformation coming from the massive to the micro, from above and below
-
Asset Class Reports
Emerging Market Debt: Grade deflation
Take out the 2008-09 crisis, and the past 18 months have seen emerging market credit rating downgrades outnumber upgrades for the first time in over a decade. Joseph Mariathasan asks if the loss of momentum in ratings convergence is a sign of weakening fundamentals or a return to old prejudices
-
Asset Class Reports
Emerging Market Debt: Default judgement
The US Supreme Court judgement that led to Argentina’s eighth debt default is an alarming precedent for both emerging and developed sovereigns, argues Rani Mina
-
Asset Class Reports
Emerging Market Debt: Carry through the crises
Navigating the switch from fundamentals-driven volatility to carry-driven calm in 2013-14 has been a challenge for emerging market debt managers, Martin Steward writes. The eruption of political crises simply adds to the complexity
-
Asset Class Reports
Emerging Market Debt: Bonds and the ballot box
Amid a rash of important elections, the rumble of ongoing territorial disputes, a deteriorating situation in coup-plagued Thailand and an alarming rise in tensions between Hong Kong and Beijing, Joseph Mariathasan looks into the impact of political risk on Asia’s bond markets
-
Asset Class Reports
Investment Grade Credit: When the flows reverse
Jittery investors at the top of markets and liquidity mis-matches within investment products could exacerbate the current lack of market-maker liquidity in corporate bonds. Charlotte Moore assesses the risk
-
Asset Class Reports
Investment Grade Credit: Worth the weight
Smart beta has taken the equities world by storm in the past three years, and practitioners are now turning their attention to bond markets – including credit. Joseph Mariathasan and Martin Steward look at some of the strategies becoming available
-
Asset Class Reports
Investment Grade Credit: Electronic liquidity taps open up
A recent paper from Pictet Asset Management paints a picture of fast-diminishing liquidity, but also some innovative responses. Martin Steward reports
-
Asset Class Reports
Investment Grade Credit: No bears threaten Goldilocks
After the big spread-tightening, managers warn against the shortest maturities and talk up senior bank debt, bottom-up bond-picking and relative value basis trades David Turner explores opportunities in the euro-zone credit sweet spot
-
Asset Class Reports
Investment Grade Credit: The last bastion of value
Sluggish growth and subdued corporate confidence persuade sterling and euro credit managers that their asset class remains ‘the best house in a bad neighbourhood’, finds Martin Steward
-
Asset Class Reports
Investment Grade Credit: Banks or supermarkets
The world’s banks are cutting debt and repairing balance sheets. The world’s non-financial companies are gearing up to take risk. Joseph Mariathasan explores why the choice for bondholders is not as clear as it sounds
-
Asset Class Reports
Investment Grade Credit: Any life in long-dated bonds
A recent reform announcement could significantly reduce the UK’s annuity market. Joseph Mariathasan asks what the knock-on effect might be for long-dated sterling bonds
-
Asset Class Reports
Developed Market Sovereign Bonds: A damaging subjectivity
Credit rating agencies make decisions about sovereign debt issuers based on objective, fundamental data and subjective judgement. Vasileios Gkionakisof UniCreditassesses each factor’s influence on decisions and argues that subjective input has been highly distorting
-
Asset Class ReportsDeveloped Market Sovereign Bonds: From ruin to recovery
Fundamentals, technicals and sentiment have come together to change the fortunes of peripheral euro-zone bonds. Joseph Mariathasan finds that, while these markets may never again be considered core, yield-hungry investors are happy to provide continuing support
-
Asset Class Reports
Developed Market Sovereign Bonds: Dollar doldrums
Central banks holding growing foreign exchange reserves around the world will need to find alternatives to US dollar assets. Joseph Mariathasan reports on the best candidates
-
Asset Class Reports
Developed Market Sovereign Bonds: 'No attempt to challenge facts'
Moody’s Albert Metz responds to UniCredit’s paper on subjective bias in sovereign bond credit ratings
