Investment Grade – Quarterly Update – April 2021

Since their introduction in 2013, AT1 bonds have acted as a valuable kicker for many fixed income funds, having consistently delivered excess return over more mainstream credit markets such as high yield bonds over the medium term.

With tensions in the Strait of Hormuz increasing over the weekend and markets getting used to oil prices well in excess of $100 per barrel, this seems an opportune moment to zoom out and look at the state of play in fixed income markets, considering the unsettling reality of a longer-than-expected conflict in the Middle East.

Sharp swings in government and corporate bond markets since the onset of the Middle East conflict pose interesting questions for fixed income investors.

TwentyFour Asset Management's Aza Teeuwen reflects on a volatile start to 2026, and explains why European ABS continues to provide relative stability over the quarter, particularly in investment grade.

TwentyFour Asset Management’s Felicity Juckes discusses how geopolitics, inflation and shifting risk sentiment shaped fixed income markets in the first quarter of 2026, and why the focus has remained on high‑quality credit.

TwentyFour Asset Management’s Jack Daley reflects on a strong start to 2026 for investment grade credit, before geopolitical escalation in the Middle East drove increased volatility later in the quarter and shaped market conditions.