Talking Heads

Confronted with low, but rising rates and frothy equity valuations, large investors are having to look elsewhere for investments offering both attractive long-run returns and modest to low volatility. Julien Halfon, head of pensions and corporate solutions, discusses the appeal of investing in private markets and harvesting the illiquidity premium while incorporating ESG selection criteria. Listen to the podcast with Julien Halfon on investment solutions for insititutional investors at a time when low and rising interest rates and market volatility present challenges. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Globalisation, regulation and deregulation, digitalisation and innovation are playing an important role in reshaping economies, sectors and industries and these megatrends are creating thematic investment opportunities for investors. Koye Somefun, head of multi-asset solutions, sets out the characteristics of this approach and discusses the criteria investors should look at.  Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

At first glance, bond markets these days may look like deserts – there is little or no yield on offer with large patches appearing barren or even offering only negative yields. That is to ignore a plethora of opportunities, argues Jean-Paul Chevé, head of the Fixed Income Insurance Team within the Specialty Fixed Income Product Group. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Investors with China exposure, or an appetite for it, face a raft of issues ranging from slower growth, which may or may not be condoned by Beijing, to toughened and expanded clampdowns on sectors. Add in persistent Sino-US tensions over geopolitics and a revitalised focus on greater common prosperity and this cocktail begs the question: How best to judge the outlook for China? Chi Lo, Senior Market Strategist APAC, puts the latest developments into context, voicing his confidence that sentiment towards the world’s second-largest economy will improve. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Convertible bonds are hybrid instruments combining bond and equity characteristics. As a result, they offer some equity upside, but with bond-like protection on the downside. If we are at the start of a cycle of rising interest rates, the option investors in these nominal assets (bonds) hold to convert to real assets (equities) could prove invaluable. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

The S&P 500 stock index ended September down by 4.8%, its first monthly drop since January and the largest fall since March 2020. Vincent Nichols, investment specialist for US equities, reviews recent events and the outlook for US stocks.   Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

At the centre of a pandemic-induced boom, stern regulation efforts and forays into new turf, the technology sector is making almost daily headlines and requires robust research to separate the possibilities from the pitfalls, argues Pamela Hegarty, lead portfolio manager with a focus on information technology and communication services.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Uncertainty over the macroeconomic landscape and the outlook for monetary policy currently combine with an awareness among investors that by many measures, valuations in public markets are on the high side. David Bouchoucha, head of our private debt and real assets team, talks about the characteristics that make private debt an attractive alternative.  Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

What will be the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic for the food and agriculture sector? How is the transition towards more sustainable food production and consumption affected? Agne Rackauskaite, co-portfolio manager of Impax Asset Management’s sustainable food strategy, gives investors her view on the post-pandemic outlook. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

It is a win-win for companies to target the social aspects of doing business, next to environmental responsibility and proper governance, and it can be so for investors as well, argues senior portfolio manager Maria Luz Diaz Blanco.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.