The US Federal Reserve’s decision to raise interest rates by a quarter percentage point this month marks a significant shift in monetary policy as the central bank seeks to dampen war-induced inflationary pressures. Although it is the first time the Fed has hiked rates since July 2023, in some respects it represents a return to normal after many years of artificially low borrowing costs.
Local currency emerging market debt (EMD) has matured into one of the most diverse opportunity sets in global fixed income. Issuance has grown, liquidity has deepened, yield curves have developed, and the ownership base has broadened across domestic and international investors. For many emerging economies, a functioning local bond market and credible monetary policy are now signals of economic development rather than aspirations.
Systematic credit is still a small part of fixed income, but its portfolio role is growing. For credit allocators, it can offer a disciplined and differentiated source of diversification.