All Global articles – Page 130
-
White papersA supportive environment for investment grade credit
The macro environment we face is one of low economic growth, low inflation, and loose monetary policy. That can be considered something of a sweet spot for investment grade credit. Corporate earnings are strong enough for the moderate leverage in the asset class, and investors’ search for high-quality yield supports bond prices.
-
White papersBuilding on 2019’s green bond resurgence
In almost whatever country you care to mention, climate change and social inequality are exploding into the public consciousness. Extinction Rebellion in the UK or the Gilets Jaune in Paris are just two of the more high-profile signs. Yet in the financial markets, too, green, social and sustainability bonds are growing in number and sophistication.
-
White papersImproving outlook for risk assets
The downturn in industrial output is bottoming out and corporate earnings – powered by rate cuts in the US and Europe – are about to accelerate.
-
White papersDemand grows for high-quality ESG analytics
After the buzz comes the reality. As we look towards 2020, the key responsible investment (RI) themes are already evident. Technology, regulatory changes, enhanced analytics, active use of voting rights and thematic issues (eg, climate change or the sustainable development goals) are key elements of this and are set to be the focus in the RI field.
-
White papersAdapting to a low-yield, high-regulation environment
Global insurance markets are a tale of two halves. The European and US markets are mature, with assets under management likely to remain flat for the foreseeable future. Asia is different: the market is boasting strong, sometimes double-digit growth. Insurance companies are injecting a lot of the expertise from their European or US businesses into growth areas, thus achieving higher valuation multiples, because a fast-growing business is more attractive from an M&A point of view.
-
White papersImpact investing in public fixed income markets
Across Nuveen, our commitment to responsible investing (RI) is based on three core principles:(1) integration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into our investment processes and decision-making; (2) proactive engagement with issuers and other industry stakeholders on a variety of ESG-related topics; and(3) impact, the ability of our investment practices to deliver competitive financial performance and document the intended environmental and social outcomes.
-
White papersGlobal Investment Views - January 2020
As we approach the year-end, a look back over the past 12 months reminds us how unconventional this year of records has been. On the upside, equities rallied to historical highs in December and fixed income returns were also strong as bond yields fell. The combination of these trends enabled a traditional 50 bond/50 equity balanced portfolio for European to investors generate 15.5%1, the best annual performance in the last two decades.
-
White papersTrade war clouds the outlook
The effects of the US’s multiple confrontations with allies and adversaries over its terms of trade with the rest of the world have overshadowed commodity markets throughout 2019. At the beginning of this year we anticipated relatively swift progress towards a trade deal between the US and China. But as the year progressed it became clear that this confrontation would last much longer than we had initially expected. We now believe it will continue beyond the US presidential election late next year, irrespective of which candidate wins.
-
White papersOutlook 2020: The Beauty of Symmetry
− Global growth is finding its feet, but a powerful upswing is not around the corner: risks such a Hard Brexit (still!) and the US elections are impediments to a meaningful capex recovery.
− 2019 was in many ways similar to 2016; but 2020 will not be a repeat of 2017. We expect equity gains to continue, but in a far more muted fashion.
− Central banks engineered a stunning risk rally in 2019; they will be less active in 2020. But nascent efforts to make inflation targets more symmetrical will remain a risk-friendly force. -
White papersReal Estate Outlook - Global overview – Edition 4, 2019
Returns slowing but rate cuts supportive of sector
-
White papersCore Matters: Where has inflation gone?
Over the past decades global inflation has been trending down. It averaged 8% yoy in the 1980s but stands at just 2.7% yoy in the current decade. Inflation is much lower in developed economies. Since 2011 it has hovered around 1.8% and 1.3% yoy in the US and euro area respectively, but only at about 0.3% yoy in Japan (excluding the sales tax hike in 2014).
-
White papersDecember Macro Dashboard
The announced Phase One trade deal between the U.S. and China, as well as the Conservatives increasing their majority in the U.K. election, has tempered two of the biggest political risks hanging over the global economy. At least temporarily, sentiment is turning optimistic.
-
-
White papersRaising the Bar – Impact Investing in a Changing World
Today we are witnessing an unprecedented wave of capital that seeks to make a difference for people and the planet. Investors, for their part, increasingly strive to generate both financial and social returns. Not that long ago, a $100 contribution to a microfinance fund was viewed as a philanthropic donation.
-
White papersGlobal Emerging Markets: ESG Materiality, Q3 2019
Welcome to the Hermes Global Emerging Markets’ ESG Materiality commentary – a quarterly publication that demonstrates our engagement activity with portfolio companies and showcases holdings that are creating positive impact aligned to the Sustainable Development Goals. In addition, we explore an environmental, social and governance theme and its implications for the asset class.
-
White papersThe Changing Investment Climate Around Climate Change
Investors need to pay attention regardless of the uncertainties (and the politics). The changing climate is already changing a lengthening list of prices, which is changing the climate for investments.
-
White papersAI applications in financial services
In this paper, we examine the pros and cons of applying artificial intelligence (AI) in three areas of financial services: asset management, banking and insurance.
-
White papersEquity Portfolio Construction: Filling the Gap Between Alpha and Beta
Separating equity alpha and beta is a good first step—but could investors be doing more in the space left between them?
-
White papersGlobal economies in 2020 and beyond
Over the past decade, major economies have more than recouped the GDP lost during the financial crisis. Yet governments, companies and households have spent more time repairing their balance sheets than spending, while central banks have reverted to the tools that failed them in the past.
-
White papersGrowth Near an Inflation Point, Trade Remains a Wild Card
Leading indicators appear to be bottoming out and pointing to economic healing but geopolitical tensions revolving around trade and international security continue to cloud the outlook.
