All Asset allocation articles – Page 2
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White papersEmerging Markets Have Changed. Should Allocations Follow?
For years, global debt and equity investors have been voting against emerging markets (EM) through their allocation decisions. But today’s EM opportunity set looks very different from the one investors have been avoiding, backed by stronger fundamentals and diverse drivers of return potential.
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White papersOn the Cutting Hedge: Generating Alpha While Managing Risk in the Current Regime
As volatility, correlations, market concentration and geopolitical risk have all risen, asset allocators are increasingly turning to hedge funds for strategic diversification.
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White papersFrom AI ecosystems to industrial strength: The case for US small caps
The period spanning the second half of 2025 and the first half of 2026 marked a watershed moment for smaller US companies, as they outperformed their larger counterparts by some margin – putting the asset class firmly back on the map for investors.
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PodcastGoing the distance - Market perspectives into autumn - Investment views by Outerblue Convictions
After an eventful summer for the markets and policymakers, particularly in the bond markets, our podcast series regulars reunite to recap the major movements in the markets over the past few weeks. Listen further to discover what these market events mean for investors and our own investment views.
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White papersThe ECB raises policy rates
“The ECB opens a period of central bank meetings. The balance is shifting further towards the risk that inflation proves more persistent than expected, given the recent rise in energy prices amid geopolitical tensions.”
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White papersIran conflict: Diversification at play
“Diversification and selectivity could help navigate a period of increasing scrutiny over policymakers’ credibility and the sustainability of earnings in the AI ecosystem”
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White papersDispelling the myths of infrastructure debt
Investors have historically turned to infrastructure as a resilient private markets asset class. Many institutional investors focus on the equity side of the capital structure to generate yield with potential upside but often overlook the debt side.
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White papersHarvesting the Valuation Gap: The Strategic Role of Crossover Equity
Promising companies are choosing to fund their explosive growth in the private markets, creating a potentially attractive arbitrage for experienced “crossover equity” investors.
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PodcastOuterblue Talks Research - The Lifecycle Remix - How the Glidepath Fits into Retirement Solutions
Retirement investing is changing as individuals take on more responsibility for their long-term outcomes, especially in defined contribution pension plans and personal savings. In this episode of Outerblue Talks Research, host Swaha Pattanaik speaks with Dominic Byrne, Global Head of Retirement Solutions at Amundi, about how lifecycle investing is evolving to include glidepath strategies.
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White papersAgentic AI and alpha: Where the AI edge really lies
As access to powerful AI models becomes increasingly commoditized, the differentiator for asset managers is shifting from the model itself to the investment workflow built around it. Models can be licensed; workflows must be designed, refined and governed. This marks an important evolution in how artificial intelligence contributes to investment research and portfolio construction.
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PodcastSustainable farming can offer portfolio diversification and inflation protection
The need to invest in sustainable farming is becoming increasingly urgent. Burgeoning populations, more demand for high protein food as middle-class wealth expands and an increasing squeeze on arable land due to climate change and urbanisation are all pressurising agricultural production.
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White papersCapital Market Line: From Inflation Shock to Productivity Shock
Markets have navigated a series of inflationary shocks over the past few years, including Covid, tariffs, and geopolitical tensions, including most recently the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. While disagreements linger between the U.S. and Iran, neither has shown the appetite for full-fledged war.
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White papersManaging private asset allocations in open-ended funds Gilles-David
With their potential to enhance returns, diversify portfolios and capture an illiquidity premium, private assets have become increasingly attractive to institutional investors. Yet integrating private equity and private debt into open-ended funds available to retail clients remains far from straightforward. Even though a fund may offer investors periodic subscriptions and redemptions, the underlying private assets generate cash only gradually and with uncertain frequency. They also require liquidity to meet unpredictable capital calls.
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White papersWhy isn’t headline risk translating into market movements?
What explains the divergence between volatility metrics and the significant geopolitical uncertainty?
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White papersCutting through the noise: Why lower and core middle market direct lending still delivers value in clients’ portfolios
Private credit has become one of the most discussed corners of institutional investing — and one of the most misunderstood. Daily headlines about troubled borrowers, struggling business development companies (BDCs), redemption pressure, and concentrated software exposure have created the impression of a market under stress. But beneath the noise, the lower and core middle market direct lending segment that has historically powered investor outcomes is performing well, behaving as designed, and, in our view, is about to deliver one of its most attractive vintages in years.
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White papersHow U.S. middle market direct lending complements and enhances European portfolios
Direct lending continues to expand across Europe as institutional and sophisticated high-net-worth investors recognize the attractive opportunities available. Demand for private credit, and specifically middle market direct lending, is growing faster than supply, prompting investors to look beyond their domestic markets.
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White papersGerman reforms: what do they mean for European equities?
The reform plus fiscal package is genuinely large and potentially a regime change, but not yet an unqualified “buy Germany/Europe” signal. The principal upside risk is a confidence-led private capex cycle. The key downside risk is implementation failures and higher bond yields, which could turn a productive investment programme into a less equity-friendly fiscal expansion.
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White papersCutting through the noise: Why lower and core middle market direct lending still delivers value in clients’ portfolios.
A long-form perspective from Principal Alternative Credit on what investors should be watching—and what the headlines are missing—in today’s private credit market.
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White papersThe New Role of Geopolitical Risk in Bond Investing
Interest rate volatility is reshaping bond markets. We examine why geopolitical risks have become increasingly linked to bond market volatility since 2025, and discuss the implications for the term premium, fixed income positioning and investment opportunities.
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PodcastReplacing Equity Beta with High-Carry Credit
Trevor Slaven joins the podcast to discuss the rationale for and conclusions of his recent piece, Replacing Equity Beta with High-Carry Credit.
