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Fixed Income Insights
Interest rates: Lower for longer...or forever?
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On September 16, 2020, the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) left interest rates near zero and signaled that it expects to hold them there through at least 2023, adding outcome based guidance. The statement follows the new long-term policy framework announced by Chair Jay Powell in August at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City’s annual Jackson Hole conference. The Fed notes that rates will remain near zero “until labor market conditions have reached levels consistent with the Committee’s assessments of maximum employment and inflation has risen to 2 percent and is on track to moderately exceed 2 percent for some time.” We didn’t get a precise definition of what a moderate overshoot would look like, allowing the Fed to retain some flexibility.
Fixed Income Insights
Fixed Income Market Update - September 2020
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In our view, in a landscape of improved risk sentiment and strong demand for yield, U.S. corporates appear attractive even noting the recompression of spreads since the first quarter. While corporates have retraced a significant portion of their year to date widening, other sectors and asset classes have gone further, leaving corporates relatively well positioned.
Portfolio Construction Insights
How We Uncover Value in Challenging Times
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COVID-19 has tested the resolve of even the most seasoned investors, leading some to question investment strategy and portfolio mix. However, faced with uncertainty, we are unwavering in our belief that a consistent investment approach helps us find opportunities that may deliver greater value. Portfolio Manager Gareth Lyons covers our four-pillar investment process and how it’s designed to reveal holdings with long-term potential.
Portfolio Construction Insights
Today, Not All is Equal
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We are seeing the highest margin of superiority on record, with a significant gap between our highest and lowest ranking sectors, exceeding levels seen in the Chinese growth scare in early 2016 and the financial crisis of 2008. James Foot, Head of Capital Markets & Asset Allocation, EMEA, discusses the unique nature of the market landscape, as well as some of the sensible actions that we believe can empower investor success.
Fixed Income Insights
Fixed Income Market Update
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In our view, monetary and fiscal policy have done a tremendous job in papering over fundamental uncertainty. Read more for the news & nuggets
Fixed Income Insights
Municipal Fixed Income: Bluebirds fly
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We focus on the strong recovery in the muni market over the second quarter, which proved to be illuminating to municipal investors on a couple fronts.
Portfolio Construction Insights
Is It Time to Take Risk Off the Table? Four Pillars Explained.
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Mike Coop, head of Multi-Asset Portfolio Management, Europe, covers how we believe our investment approach is designed to help us achieve better investment outcomes.
Fixed Income Insights
May 2020 Fixed Income Market Update
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In our view, the markets feel much healthier at the end of April than a month ago, but underappreciated in the improved sentiment is not only the scale of March policy action, but its continuation into April. Actions announced in April would ordinarily have remained in headlines and discussion for weeks, but the nearly half trillion dollar U.S. fiscal stimulus package has been treated almost as a footnote to its much larger cousin in March. Similarly, Fed and other central banks not only continued to implement the massive programs initiated last month, but significantly expanded on them.
Fixed Income Insights
Municipal Yields Have Converged
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Over the past several weeks, yields between short- and intermediate-term Municipal Bonds have converged. This may be an opportunity for investors to significantly reduce interest rate risk while sacrificing minimal income since shorter-term bonds typically have less sensitivity to rates.