In Depth – Page 23
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FeaturesBriefing: A safe haven
Treasuries, the yen, and gold all traditionally serve to harbour investors in times of stress. A closer look at the current demand for Treasuries, however, paints a complex world view with implications for financial markets. Yields suggest it might remain ugly for another decade.
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Special ReportStrategically Speaking: HSBC Global Asset Management
As the financial markets enter uncharted territory, HSBC GAM could be well placed to take advantage of the dislocations in Asian and emerging markets. Its aim, though, is to offer investors the full spectrum of fixed-income solutions, says Xavier Baraton, global CIO for fixed-income private debt and alternatives.
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FeaturesAhead of the Curve: The mega-cap conundrum
Last year was challenging for quantitative equity strategies with a large proportion of them underperforming their benchmark on a rolling one-year basis. There has, therefore, been a great deal of interest in understanding the shortcomings of quantitative portfolios over the same calendar year.
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FeaturesIPE Quest Expectations Indicator: April 2020
This months’ figures were collected before the successive stock-market slumps.
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FeaturesFixed income, rates, currencies: Global economy under pressure
At the end of February, after a week that saw stock markets around the world plummet, US Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell sought to calm fears, saying that the Fed would “act as appropriate” to support growth.
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FeaturesEmerging market outlook
Emerging markets have a knack for being in the headlines for the wrong reasons. They also stand out as sources of growth for investors who face low interest rates and muted economic performance in the developed world
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FeaturesDollar/sterling: The road ahead for cable
The twisting path of the dollar/sterling relationship over 2020 will provide ongoing theatre, punctuated by moments of intensity
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FeaturesGeopolitical risk: The new norm
Geopolitical risk is now the norm and not the exception, and brings with it a rise in volatility,” says Joyce Chang, chair of global research at JP Morgan, adding: “This volatility has tended to create more noise than trend.”
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FeaturesESG: What drives ATP to divest?
Short of flying someone to Mexico City to knock on the door of the mining and transport company’s headquarters, the Danish pension fund had done all it could. Selling off its DKK13m (€1.7m) block of shares in Grupo México was not what ATP really wanted to do at the end of last year.
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Interviews
Strategically speaking: Old Mutual Alternative Investments
Africa looks set to account for over half of the world’s population growth between now and 2050, according to the UN. Thanks to a young population and a high fertility rate, Africa’s population could exceed 2bn, making it the fastest-growing continent in that respect.
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FeaturesAhead of the Curve: The trade war and Asia
The rivalry between the US and China looks set to dominate Asian affairs in the future and cannot be ignored by responsible investors. The escalation of tensions at the start of Donald Trump’s presidency led to an increase in trade barriers and impacted growth; now a temporary truce has been agreed but uncertainty remains, as do tariffs on Chinese exports to the US. The new bilateral agreement is a positive step, but investors should take a long-term view; the economic and strategic rivalry looks set to continue and some sectors are better placed than others to adapt to this landscape.
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FeaturesBriefing: Central bank about-turn bolsters gold
Gold is unlike any other commodity. It has few industrial applications of any note. It is widely used in jewellery partly because of its aesthetic appeal but also in many cases as a form of investment. Central banks distance themselves from acknowledging the precious metal as a kind of universal currency yet still keep thousands of tonnes of it locked away in their vaults.
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FeaturesAre cryptocurrencies an asset class for institutional investors?
Cryptocurrencies are sweeping the world in terms of news headlines but how should institutional investors react?
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FeaturesWhere insurers are placing their money
Insurers’ investment decisions can influence economic growth and developments in capital markets
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FeaturesThe proof of the Brexit pudding is in the eating
Brexit “got done”, to paraphrase the British prime minister, at the end of January. But the exact form it will take is still to be determined
