Sharing our convictions

After a multi-decade era of significant economic growth, China is now the second largest global economy and dominant in the MSCI emerging market index. How should emerging market equities investors balance this with the potential implications of recent economic and political moves out of Beijing and shifting demographic patterns?

We reap what we sow: the “double dividend” concept seeks to offer financial returns and a better tomorrow

Felipe Villarroel takes a look at what progress, if any, has been made in the labour market and how this resonates with the Fed's projection of labour markets easing while not experiencing a major disruption.

Generating financial returns and making a positive impact on our planet and society are equally important in impact investing – but so is measurement. To effectively measure impact, we use a systematic and repeatable approach with a commitment to full transparency at all times.

Clean and safe water is essential to human survival. A key building block of our world, it’s also at the center of many global challenges. World Water Week draws attention to the need for innovation at a time of unprecedented challenges.

After a difficult 2022, bonds may be poised for unusually high returns compared to historic averages. And not just in the US -- we see opportunities in European CLOs and RMBS. They offer double digit yields for short-dated debt and look very attractive on a relative value basis compared to domestic credit.

As governments around the world provided support in various manners during the pandemic, savings ratios increased to levels that were twice as large as the previous all time highs in some countries. Felipe Villarroel takes a look at some countries' spending vs savings monthly data patterns and lays out what he thinks this means for fixed income investors.

Bank bonds have been amongst the best performing asset classes in fixed income over the last few months, doing their bit in proving their strength.

Luc D’hooge and Wouter Van Overfelt review the developments of the Vontobel Fund – Emerging Markets Debt and Vontobel Fund – Emerging Markets Corporate Bond and share their forecast for the remainder of 2023.

Felipe Villarroel looks at the preliminary numbers for July PMI Manufacturing and PMI Services data, and how from a markets point of view, he thinks volatility will remain in place while both rates and spreads should trade in a range as we await for more clarity on whether inflation will allow Central Banks to pause and the extent of the slowdown in H2, particularly considering August is looming.

What level of risk are investors willing to take? As central bank rates hike and a soft landing narrative makes its way into analysts’ forecasts, Eoin Walsh takes a look at what affects this has on investment risk and reinvestment risk.

What sort of landing will the global economy experience? With the recent release of the US CPI report, inflation has been on a downward trend and the resilient activity data has continued to surprise many. This report has acted as a trigger of sorts for increasing calls for a soft landing.

After a tumultuous decade, the stars may be set to favor emerging market local currency bonds again. Portfolio manager Carl Vermassen says there are good reasons to believe their outperformance so far this year isn’t just a one-off lucky shot.

Investors can look back at having had to navigate a difficult first half of the year. Emerging-market equities, though posting positive returns, trailed their developed-market counterparts. Could things turn around in the remainder of the year, leading to an outperformance of EM stocks?

Last year's bond market disappointments now seem far behind us and investors tell us they are once again bullish on fixed income.

To say addressing carbon emissions is urgent errs on the side of understatement. Tackling the transition toward decarbonization requires a collective effort, and carbon markets have a key role to play in the climate change fight – though those opportunities also come with some challenges.

As the US Federal Reserve meets this week, what should investors brace for? Our Head of Corporate Credit Mondher Bettaieb Loriot suggests Fed officials are likely to hit the pause button on rate hikes as inflation and growth keep trending down. Across the Atlantic, however, the European Central Bank might not be ready to apply the brakes just yet.

BBVA have announced they are issuing a new AT1. What does this mean for the market? Eoin Walsh believes this could be the catalyst investors have been waiting for to help AT1 spreads grind tighter.

What can we expect from central banks this week? Felipe Villarroel looks at how recent CPI prints in the Eurozone and in the United States are expected to influence upcoming central bank monetary policy decisions.

What have we learnt from the ECB’s Consumer Expectations Survey? Felipe Villarroel discusses how latest changes in the consumer’s expectations of the economy reflect that the ECB’s monetary policy is actually working.

With regional banks in the US concerned about deposit flight, financial conditions are tightening, increasing the probability of a hard landing for the economy. Quality companies that do not rely on leverage and whose earnings tend to be more resilient during times of economic weakness can be an attractive option for investors.

In recent weeks the US debt ceiling has been dominating headlines with investors focused on the imminent threat of a US default which would be extremely unnerving for global markets. We look at the wider implications facing the US economy.

Multinationals listed in the US can provide exposure to global revenues. But an international approach also offers access to world leading companies that have no equivalent in domestic markets. And with valuations at a wide discount to the US, and below long-run averages, the story in international equities is both timely and compelling.

Is China’s property market on the mend? Are there any more humps in the road before it turns the corner? Our emerging markets credit specialists Cosmo Zhang and Wouter van Overfelt explain how contrarian investors who may have missed the strong rebound in December can now spot potential opportunities for generating alpha.