Viewpoints

The end of rising interest rates in Europe and the US, attractive yields, and lower-than-expected default rates mean investors can get higher income without taking on as much risk as they had to in the past. In our view, less volatile, high quality fixed income products are poised for strong performance in 2024.

A company’s competitive advantages are referred to as its moat. Far from castles and the countryside, it is important to analyze the strength and durability of a company’s moat before investing. Since moats can be wide or narrow and change over time, competitive advantages must be constantly monitored.

Many US investors are overweight domestic versus international strategies for the wrong reasons – home bias and benchmark anchoring. In our view, investors should focus on great companies, regardless of where they are domiciled. An active international strategy can help US investors expand their opportunity set, diversify risks, and improve their portfolio returns.

Japan’s economic success story after World War II was like a phoenix rising from the ashes. But it didn’t last, resulting in the “Lost Decade” and China subsequently taking its place as the world’s second-largest economy. Comparing the Japan of yesteryear with today’s China raises the question whether China could soon face a similar fate.

Adding women to corporate boards can improve the impact a board has on company performance. Yet progress has been slow. Companies that recruit former CFOs and CEOs simply cannot find enough female board members. Expanding talent pools can bring more women into the fold.

Over the last decade investors have been forced to broaden their horizons, but many investors continue to overlook Emerging Market Local Currency Debt. Our Fixed income team offers five reasons why you should think about giving emerging markets local currency a more permanent allocation in your investment portfolio.

We believe answers to critical questions about weight loss drugs will help determine the sustainability of success that some pharmaceutical stocks have enjoyed: How many people will be on the drug, and at what price? Which pharma company will be the winner of the R&D race?

After some troubled years, bonds are back. In a big way. Our team explains the reasons why we believe bonds are poised to be one of the most attractive risk/reward propositions of the coming year.

Over time the definition of quality has broadened and become subject to a variety of interpretations, with sometimes significant divergence in the performance of quality strategies depending on market conditions.