Given the dominance of inflation in today's capital markets discussion, it should be no surprise to anyone watching this video that one of the most common questions I get is, “How do I inflation-protect my portfolio?” And that's what we're going to focus on today: what to think about when you're thinking about inflation protection.

Equity markets were jolted in January amid growing concerns about macroeconomic threats.

Millennials often say their biggest challenge is being lumped into one category, as if everyone’s needs and aspirations are identical.

The prospect of rising interest rates has clouded the outlook for global bond investors in 2022, but it’s not all bad news.

Recently, euro-based investors have been able to access higher-yielding US dollar bond markets while hedging their currency risk at low cost.

From the advent of electricity to the adoption of the internet, technology has often been a catalyst for cost reduction.

The COVID-19 pandemic looked set to batter the world’s banks—and yet banks’ balance sheets are now the strongest they’ve been since the global financial crisis (GFC).

The surge of the coronavirus omicron variant has implications not only for broader asset-class allocations but also for macro exposures within asset classes.

For China, the year ahead holds special political and economic significance.

Most investors need little persuading that emerging markets offer exciting opportunities.

One of the things that we like to do is to make sure that our investments are very specific—that they have intentionality behind each investment.

As we go into 2022 and ’23, we’re going to have an economy that’s going to be quote-unquote normal.

Rising inflation is troubling bond investors worldwide, but European bond markets will likely experience comparatively weaker inflation pressures and stronger central bank support.

For emerging-market debt (EMD), 2022 is shaping up to be a contest of conflicting forces.

Few investors would’ve anticipated the very strong returns we’ve seen, particularly in the US market.

Global equities surged in 2021 during a year full of surprises.

High-yield investors should actually root for rates to move higher, rather than lower. And that’s because if rates are moving higher, it means the economy is doing well and companies are generating a lot of earnings, and therefore their credit risk is actually coming down. Which is a really good thing for us as credit investors.

The Federal Reserve responded to stubborn inflation pressures in the US economy by doubling the pace at which it’s tapering its QE purchases. It also ramped up the number of rate hikes it expects will be needed to bring the economy back into equilibrium in the medium term.

The world’s central bankers have had to manage competing priorities during the COVID-19 era. Now that COVID-related threats to global economic growth look to be receding, the risks from higher inflation are becoming more prominent in their thinking.

The United Nations Glasgow Climate Change Conference, also known as COP26, concluded in November with 200 nations signing the Glasgow Climate Pact (GCP), an agreement that could accelerate climate action and drive big carbon cuts.

Commodities, by virtue of their fungibility and broad uses, have infiltrated nearly every facet of human life, making the world enormously reliant on their ready availability.

Real estate stocks posted a sharp recovery this year, despite disparate effects of the pandemic on different property types. Improving trends in key US market segments show how investors can gain confidence in property stocks as a diversifying source of solid long-term returns and an effective hedge against inflation.

As investors and companies increasingly seek to address the risks of climate change, there is growing debate about the use of carbon offsets in achieving net-zero emissions. We think there’s room for a measure of offsets to achieve carbon neutrality, provided best practices are followed.

So, when you think about the end of 2021, and looking forward into 2022, we’re reasonably optimistic about the backdrop. Growth should be set up pretty well for 2022.

Impact investing, which seeks to make a direct—and measurable—social or environmental impact while generating a financial return, has historically been synonymous with the private debt and equity markets. But that ignores the hugely important public market of municipal finance.

With profits from forced labor estimated at US$150 billion a year, some companies in global portfolios could be unwittingly associated with modern slavery. The good news: businesses and investors can help tackle the problem—individually and through collaboration.

In high yield specifically, investors tend to think about it as a risky way to play fixed income. But we like to turn that thinking on its head, actually: that you should think about it as a way to de-risk your overall portfolio rather than to re-risk your fixed-income side.

As one of the fastest-growing bond sectors, emerging-market (EM) corporate debt has become too big to ignore. With US$2.7 trillion outstanding across more than 600 companies, it’s now larger than the entire EM sovereign sector and is equal to the US-dollar and euro high-yield markets combined.

Equity investors focused on a low-carbon strategy needn’t compromise on company fundamentals. When quality and compelling valuations are equally considered, joining the global fight against climate change and generating strong return potential can work hand in glove.

The revolutionary technology of synthetic biology is poised to make a profound impact on the way a vast array of products are manufactured, from lab-grown meat to cosmetics to biodegradable packaging. Yet investors are paying relatively little attention to the huge business potential.

Inflation and rising interest rates have prompted many equity investors to reconsider technology and high-growth companies. But this inflationary environment is different, and so are the companies best poised to rise above it.

One advisor whom I coach uses a color-coded checklist with every client to track which areas of a financial plan have been completed and which tasks are pending. It’s a brilliant way to shift a client’s attention from portfolio performance to the larger, more important elements that make up a holistic financial plan.

It’s not uncommon for stakeholders in large organizations to have different views on the meaning of ESG and the importance of its pillars in defining organizational success. That’s understandable, and in fact, diverse perspectives can be a source of strength when making investment decisions.

After years of anxiously watching for inflation, it’s here. Unfortunately, what many expected to be a short, COVID-19-induced visit has turned into an extended stay, thanks to robust demand and a snarled supply chain. The question now is does the supply chain pose a threat to our economic outlook?

Investors are sitting on a mountain of cash as household reserves now stand four times higher than pre-COVID-19 levels, while money market reserves rose to all-time highs. However, a trifecta of concerns from rising interest rates, persistent inflation, and an evolving US tax picture are making investors reluctant to deploy that cash.

Renewed impetus behind China’s goal of “common prosperity” has raised concerns that Beijing plans a redistribution of wealth that could hurt growth and investment. The reality, however, is more nuanced—and a good deal more positive for China’s long-term growth ambitions.

Soaring energy prices highlight the challenges of shifting toward renewable power sources. The continuing need for oil and gas during the transitional phase raises complex questions about balancing environmental needs and social concerns on the journey to a net-zero world.

Inflationary pressures are threatening corporate profitability. As third-quarter earnings season winds down, we’re gathering intelligence to identify companies that will have advantages sustaining quality earnings and margins amid rising prices.

When rates are rising, investors need portfolio protection. But it’s no time to sit idly in cash and wait things out. Every day spent on the sidelines means income and opportunities lost. A passive, set-it-and-forget-it investing approach isn’t ideal either. Buy-and-hold laddered portfolios tend to lock in low yields that disappoint if the market begins to offer more.

Investing is about to get a lot harder, with thinner return streams and potential pitfalls from inflation, rising rates and market volatility dominating the landscape. In our view, the solution is to build a portfolio that has better up/down capture. Getting that balance right is the challenge for every investor—and requires three main elements: better beta, efficient structure and targeted alpha. Each element can create a favorable return sequence and be even more powerful in combination.

Download AB’s guide to get our views on how to design a portfolio around these elements in the post-pandemic environment.

When I look at the opportunity, it’s all about how well corporate America has done in terms of increasing profit margins. We’re at record levels now, so the revenues have come back, but all the costs haven’t come back. And that means tremendous earnings growth. That’s the positive.

After decades of saving for a comfortable retirement, plan participants eventually face the question of how to create an income stream from those savings. Most aren’t sure how to do that, even though income is the main reason they’re saving in the first place...

Well, on the surface, it's been a very solid year for the second year in a row. But under the surface, it's been unusually volatile.

When the history of COVID-19 is written, the pandemic period will be seen as more than just a health and economic crisis. Both contributed to a social reckoning, with a growing focus on inequality around the world, while the intensifying global climate crisis has added new and unpredictable threats.

The shift to electric vehicles means major changes across the supply chain and involves multiple ESG challenges. As the auto industry strives to institute sustainable practices, investors need to engage with governments and corporates to encourage and accelerate the process of change.

Interest rates are rising, and bond investors are worried about the potential impact on their portfolios. But they’re not entirely at the mercy of the markets. 

Concerns about China’s slowing economy have focused on issues affecting property and manufacturing. But these are only part of the story. Investors seeking a fuller understanding of the risks and opportunities need to take a broader perspective.

The strong economic and market trends of the first half of 2021 wavered during the third quarter. The coronavirus delta variant caught up with the US at the height of the summer, just as vaccinations slowed and concerns grew that inflation might flare and persist.

In business as in life, a healthy sense of self-awareness is often the first step to meaningful change. Companies that are conscious of their flaws and eager to address the root problems offer a source of solid return potential for equity investors who identify the turnaround stories early.

Inflationary pressures are mounting, based on evidence from the recent earnings season. The question for investors is, which companies can pass on those costs to help protect profit margins?