Latest White Papers – Page 301
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White papersAsia Quarterly Bulletin Winter 2020
The region’s bonds stand out in a world of low and negative yields, but investors need to be picky.
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White papersGlobal Sustainable Outcomes - News & Views Q4 2019
In 2015 the UN set 17 global sustainable development goals and 169 targets to encourage corporate and government action in areas of critical importance to humanity and the environment. These targets were all set for 2030, meaning this new decade is crucial in achieving our ambitions for a better planet for all.
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White papersResponsible Investment Quarterly Q4 2019
Responsible investment (RI) continues to evolve at pace but, as we look towards the year ahead, the key 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). Much of this reflects the growing focus among policy makers and regulators seeking to mobilise private capital in response to the broader public policy agenda.
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White papersDisciplined approach pays off in exciting emerging markets
It’s been a relatively volatile 12 months, but the work we did in 2018 really paid off last year, and we are quietly confident about an asset class that suits our style of active management
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White papersWeighing up potential market impacts from the coronavirus
As the virus outbreak spreads well beyond China, it is hard to forecast exactly what the economic impact will be, but it’s safe to say that consumption and supply will be significantly affected
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White papersSharpe Thinking
This week we launch a new monthly review that aims to make sense of the factors driving financial markets. Sharpe Thinking will include timely, active insights from our portfolio managers, analysts and economists, delivered to you by the Investment Office – our independent oversight body that ensures our strategies perform in the best interest of clients.
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White papersWhen The View Is Getting Blurry, Stick To Main Convictions
Market reaction: The further spreading of the coronavirus, especially in Europe, has, in the past few days, triggered a selloff in risk assets and high demand for safe assets (US dollar, Treasuries and gold). As markets reassess the spillover effects of the virus into the economy, volatility is likely to persist.
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White papersManaging liquidity is core to every investment strategy
Whether in certain or uncertain times, well-managed funds containing potentially illiquid assets have a vital place in many investors’ portfolios
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White papersDisappearing Alpha & Hidden Beta—A Sleight of Hand
Comparing Option Strategy Indices and Hedge Fund Indices before and after the 2008 – 09 financial crisis reveals that what many investors thought was “alpha” was just an illusion.
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White papersCoronavirus concerns spark market sell off
Public and market fears have converged with countries outside China anxious that they may be approaching the same point as China was at the end of December - the preliminary stages of a devastating epidemic.
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White papersPersonal Values, Responsible Investing And Stock Allocation
We analyze the portfolio choices of approximately 965,500 active participants in employee saving plans in France. Looking at the cross-section of equity exposure, we find that the inclusion of responsible equity options in the menu of available funds is associated with a 2.4% higher equity allocation by plan participants.
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White papersFlexible credit: the upside of downside protection
Flexibility always has a place, but its capacity to provide downside protection makes it particularly important given the advanced age of the credit cycle. In the fourth instalment of a five-part series, we explain why credit investors cannot afford to just rely on rates and diversification for protection. We also consider the robust suite of tools needed to preserve capital during market sell-offs and help protect our ability to take risk when opportunities are greatest.
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White papersSouth Africa Inflation
South African inflation came out higher in January: 4.5% yoy compared to 4% in December but is in the middle of the inflation target (3-6%) of the South African Central Bank (SARB). This acceleration in inflation is mainly explained by a sharp rise in transport prices linked to base effects of fuel prices (+ 13.7% in January against 2.4% the previous month).
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White papersFebruary 2020 - European loan market - review and outlook
European loans returned 5.0% in euro terms in 2019, making another strong year and the asset class’s best performance in 2016. In tandem with wider markets, the year was not without its wobbles, most markedly in October, but all quarters delivered positive returns and loans found their footing in the fourth quarter, as economic and political concerns dissipated and as progress towards a US-China trade deals was made, just as a decisive result in the UK elections inspired confidence in a clearer position on Brexit.
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White papersExports’ dependence to China and Asia of more than 70 countries
The Coronavirus is expected to have a significant impact at least on China Q1 GDP figure. This will affect many countries firstly through exports to China (including tourism). As shown in charts below and as expected, China’s share in total of exports is high for most of Asian countries particularly for South Korea, Hong Kong and Mongolia. Including Japan, share of exports to Asia for Asian countries is above 50% except for China, India, Sri Lanka and Kazakhstan.
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White papersGlobal high yield outlook: Be confident, but not complacent
Last year was a strong year for global bond markets, which were supported by the accommodative stance of the main central banks and strong investor demand. US, European and EM high yield (HY) bonds all returned more than 14% swapped into US dollars. The performance was led by the higher-quality segments of the market, such as BB-rated bonds, as well as the strong performance of CCC bonds in Europe. This was due to the search for yield across credit products, helped by positive risk sentiment.
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White papersFixed-income investing in unprecedented times
In a live recording from our Fixed Income Forum 2020, we assess the macroeconomic and market drivers for this asset class – and conclude that we are in unchartered territory.
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White papersAre CLOs Unfairly Vilified?
Despite the late-cycle environment, we believe the recent negative headlines on CLOs are somewhat overstated, and do little justice to the many benefits of the asset class—which has delivered impressive risk-adjusted returns and low defaults over time.
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White papersChecking in on BBBs
Improved credit conditions are reflected in spreads, but volatility may create opportunities.
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White papersThe Circular Edition 1, 2020: keeping you in the sustainability loop
It’s a new year and a new opportunity to shine a light on sustainability. We’ve summed up our recent insights on environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing to bring you the latest edition of The Circular.
