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Investing Ideas
Evaluating Stocks as Growth Continues to Grow
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Portfolio Manager Doug Rao discusses the phenomenon of concentrated market leadership and what that means for long-term investors.
Key Takeaways
- When market returns are driven by a handful of stocks, active investors face difficult decisions, especially when underweighting or not owning these stocks may significantly impact portfolio performance.
- The recent phenomenon of large-cap tech stocks driving a significant portion of stock market gains may be justified by the fact that these companies are strongly tied to themes related to digital disruption.
- Investors may benefit from focusing on competitively advantaged companies positioned to profit from these themes, which have only accelerated amid the COVID-19 pandemic and are likely to persist over the coming months and years.
Investing Ideas
Sustainable Design in Consumer Products
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An in-depth look at the role of sustainability in consumer products.
Key Takeaways:
- The apparel sector is well known for its detrimental effects on the environment. However, as consumers become more aware of their own environmental footprints, there has been a surge in demand for sustainable goods.
- A circular economy is based on the principles of designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems.
- Companies including Nike, Adidas and DS Smith have incorporated a circular approach to the design and production of their goods, creating durable and long-lasting products with a reduced environmental footprint.
Market Outlooks
Global Weekly Commentary: Our latest credit views
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We have closed our tactical underweight in EM debt as easy monetary policy is expected to stay, against the background of an improved 2021 outlook. Positive news on Covid vaccine development has boosted the case for an accelerated global restart in 2021.
Fixed Income Insights
ISG Insight: A mostly benign outlook for US inflation
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The stabilisation of US economic growth amid unprecedented fiscal and monetary stimulus has raised questions about the likelihood of inflation returning. Jim Cielinski, Global Head of Fixed Income, and Andrew Mulliner, Global Bonds Portfolio Manager, both members of the Fixed Income ISG, explain why they do not see significant risks of sustained higher inflation materialising in the next few years, though caution that short-term spikes are possible and investors should evaluate the diversity that their fixed income portfolios provide.
Market Outlooks
In a big November, small caps come up REALLY BIG
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As we take pen to paper for this Weekly Wire we have one trading day left in November, and what a November it has been for our country, our economy, and our stock market:
Market Outlooks
Considering the long-term economic consequences of COVID-19
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COVID-19 is first and foremost a healthcare crisis, and its impact on the world has been devastating. That said, as investors, we must try to determine the long-term economic consequences of the pandemic.
Market Outlooks
Global Weekly Commentary: Upgrading U.S. equities
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We upgrade U.S. equities to overweight, with a preference for quality large caps riding structural growth trends – as well as smaller companies geared to a potential cyclical upswing. We prefer to look through any near-term market volatility as Covid cases surge. Positive vaccine news reinforces our outlook for an accelerated restart during 2021, reducing risks of permanent economic scarring.
Market Outlooks
Global Weekly Commentary: Vaccines shape 2021 outlook
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Positive news on Covid vaccines gives us greater confidence that the economic restart can re-accelerate in 2021 – and that the cumulative activity loss from the virus shock will ultimately be a fraction of that seen after the global financial crisis (GFC). We prefer to look through any market volatility generated by the virus resurgence and renewed restrictions over the challenging months ahead.