Fixed Income – Page 2
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White papers
Jumbo cuts call for neutral duration
The cutting cycle is finally underway – we think portfolios need to be at least neutral on duration for two key reasons.
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White papers
When the stars align: Opportunities in global investment grade corporate bonds
The turn in the interest rate cycle toward lower rates potentially provides a strong backdrop for fixed income. And with its high quality, attractive yield and duration profile, we believe investment grade credit could be well positioned to provide investors with strong returns over the coming investment cycle.
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White papers
Macro Views: Everything everywhere all at once
Franklin Templeton Fixed Income economists note continued divergence in G3 monetary policies. The US Federal Reserve and European Central Bank are expected to continue gradual easing, with US politics adding uncertainty. In contrast, Japan’s strong labor market may lead to more aggressive tightening than anticipated.
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White papers
ECB cuts rates again this year
“Declining price pressures are leading central banks such as the ECB to reduce policy rates. This, coupled with uncertainty over economic growth, could potentially be supportive for European bonds.”
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White papers
The critical role of covenants in Private Credit
Covenants in private credit often act as crucial safeguards, functioning as early warning systems for lenders. They help monitor borrower stability and manage risks, allowing lenders to intervene if deviations from their base case occur.
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White papers
A(nother) Cautious ECB Cut Amidst Uneasy Stability
The ECB unanimously cut its main policy rate to 3.5% at its September policy meeting, and we anticipate a gradual and limited path with further rate cuts, at least until the end of 2024.
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White papers
Inflation Quarterly Monitor
Central banks continue to tread carefully when it comes to monetary easing, expressing cautious optimism about inflation yet refusing to commit on the future path of policy rate decisions. Amidst falling inflation and slowing growth, the added complexity of political risk in the US, Europe and the UK has brought greater uncertainty. Even after the European Central Bank (ECB) acted as the first mover to cut policy rates in June, other central banks did not immediately follow in their June meetings.
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White papers
High-Yield Bonds: Gaining Traction for Good Reason
High-yield bonds have become an increasingly popular investment choice. At Northern Trust Asset Management, we strongly believe this asset class is positioned to continue delivering the strong performance seen in the first half of 2024.
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White papers
Municipal Fixed Income: Shelter From the Storm?
Technical factors and market volatility are creating a value opportunity in the U.S. municipal market. The summer months are typically a quieter, more predictable time in the municipal fixed income market, as supply tends to be modest and demand rises due to higher levels of bond reinvestment.
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White papers
Rate cuts: Now may be the time to extend duration
With the Fed likely to begin its rate cutting cycle in September, investors should consider extending duration now in high-quality fixed income to capture potential gains. Historically, bond yields drop ahead of Fed rate cuts, offering a window of opportunity to enhance returns without waiting for official policy shifts. Positioning in longer-duration assets now can provide income stability and potential price appreciation in a slowing economy.
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White papers
Want to Optimize Your Fixed Income Strategy?
The debate between active and index investing has evolved. Now, the key question is whether active, index or systematic investing is more effective for specific fixed-income sectors and the asset class as a whole. Our latest paper, The Role of Active, Index and Systematic Investing in Fixed Income Portfolios.
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White papers
Endgame – the benefits of ‘buy and maintain’ credit
Due to higher gilt yields, many defined benefit pension schemes are now in a stronger funding position than they were a few years ago. To secure this improved status, schemes are looking to reduce investment risk by decreasing equity holdings and focusing on assets that will more likely provide the necessary cashflows to pay pensions.
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White papers
U.S. Bank Update Amid an Economic Turn
More than one year after the banking panic of early 2023, we reflect on the sector’s investment portfolios, liquidity, and profitability conditions.
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White papers
US Fixed Income Navigator: Making sense of market inefficiencies
This paper contains the latest views based on data analysis using the Franklin Templeton Institute’s US Fixed Income Navigator, with a special emphasis on rising opportunities from a series of potential market inefficiencies.
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White papers
What does India’s benchmark inclusion mean for investors
Indian government bonds have been added to the global emerging market bond index, providing foreign investors access to India’s $1.3 trillion government bond market. The move could improve capital flows into the country, as well as stabilise yields.
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White papers
Global bonds: Unlocking investment opportunities in 2024
The Franklin Templeton Fixed Income team is seeing some compelling opportunities across global fixed income markets. Learn how expanding portfolio exposure to include different sovereign issuers and currencies can offer added return and diversification potential.
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White papers
Seizing value in emerging market debt
Despite recent challenges, emerging market economies remain robust and are delivering positive growth. India is leading the charge, benefiting from secular demographic trends like a growing working-age population as well as resilient domestic demand. As China’s share of global growth declines, India is stepping in to fill the gap. More broadly, EM growth projections have been revised upward by the IMF’s World Economic Outlook (WEO), benefiting from country-specific factors.
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White papers
ELTIF 2.0: Investing in private credit through open-ended funds
In this paper, we discuss the amended regulation on European Long-Term Investment Funds (ELTIF 2.0), the latest evolution of EU Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs). The first version of this fund structure was introduced in 2015 and aimed to finance the real economy by channelling non-bank capital to long-term infrastructure projects and SMEs.
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White papers
Liquidity optimisation for insurers: Building a bespoke portfolio solution
In the third part of our liquidity optimisation series, we look at how bespoke liquidity portfolios that take into account the interplay between different assets can suit the needs of insurers.
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White papers
No winners in the Thames Water travails
Whatever angle you look at things from the prospects for future investment in the UK water sector don’t look good, for anyone. The travails of Thames Water especially (but other water companies are not exempt) have wrought such damage to the sector’s reputation that water, once a byword for the essence of life, is now more commonly aligned in headlines with words including risk, sewage and pollution.