A fresh round of lockdowns means a difficult winter lies ahead for the euro area. But three factors caution against excessive pessimism.
The roller-coaster ride of 2020 still has a few twists and turns to navigate. But the massive policy response to the COVID-19 pandemic brought a quick, though incomplete, recovery. With volatility expected to continue, where can investors look for opportunities?
There have been plenty of headlines exploring what the November US elections might mean for the economy and markets. But it’s just as important to look at what they might have in store for defined contribution (DC) and other retirement vehicles, which more Americans than ever rely on.
Why is it hard to get clients to take preventative action to protect themselves from real and measurable risks?
As Prime Minister Suga begins his administration, the message is one of continuity, but Abenomics may need a reboot after COVID-19. We examine what Suganomics may mean for Japan.
Emerging-market debt has rebounded sharply off March lows, but attractive yields and compelling opportunities persist. We provide a roadmap for what may lie ahead.
Even if this US election has a bigger impact on markets than in the past, we would advise against building an investing strategy based on a potential political outcome for several reasons.
Euro-area countries were struggling to achieve growth and inflation even before the coronavirus pandemic. Now global lockdowns and trade disputes have compounded their problems. Still, we believe euro fixed-income markets offer active investors attractive opportunities and worthwhile income.
Investors should consider many angles when evaluating what active managers can offer through a global crisis and an indefinite period of uncertainty.
Escalating trade tensions between the US and China could affect Chinese corporate bonds, but not all credits are vulnerable.
It seems like ages ago that our firms closed their doors and we scrambled to set up home offices. We weren’t sure what challenges lay ahead, and the market took our breath away in those first intense weeks. But while we don’t like having to cope with a disaster, human beings tend to do well in a crisis and to adapt quickly to massive disruptions.
US third quarter GDP was better than expected, though our updated economic forecasts still show a quick but incomplete recovery. Over time, this should give way to a more gradual, lengthy path back to “normal.” But there are a lot of moving parts.
European equity markets are still struggling to overcome the effects of the pandemic. But diligent investors can find surprising investment candidates.
Can bonds continue to play defense and provide income when yields are at historic lows? We think so.
Equity markets advanced in the third quarter but pulled back during September. Market moves were dominated by a small group of giant US stocks. How should investors react?
Investing in businesses that strive for a better climate through decarbonization doesn’t necessarily assume a lower bar for performance. Just the opposite. Besides contributing to a healthier environment, low-carbon equity investing can also offer attractive return potential.
Guiding Defined Contribution (DC) plans through economic cycles is challenging enough without harsh headwinds from a global health crisis. But more plan sponsors are getting invaluable expert help to navigate through current challenges while keeping a long-term perspective.
What will a Trump or Biden win mean for munis? From taxes to infrastructure, the candidates differ—sometimes dramatically—on policy.
Recent history suggests that low—and even negative—yields don’t eliminate the offset to risk assets provided by government bonds.
Videoconferencing is becoming routine, mundane and overused. Here are tips for looking and sounding your best on a video call so that your audience stays engaged and you can rock that call.
Investors don’t often pay much attention to corporate culture. But cultural norms can make the difference between success and failure, especially for growth companies.
Investors are eager to buy bonds that help create a better, more sustainable world. Here’s how to navigate the evolving landscape.
Global stock markets seem to be defying the reality of recessions this year. Despite recent volatility, we think market gains for the year are more rational than perceived, given the powerful impact of stimulus and low rates on stock valuations.
The Brexit negotiations are growing more adversarial with no signs of agreement on key issues. The most likely outcomes are now the hardest and most disruptive Brexit scenarios—leading to further potential weakness for the UK’s currency.
The best reason to conduct a virtual meeting is to motivate some kind of action. This means that a well-managed meeting is always moving toward a clear and specific close. There are six steps to a meeting’s flow that will help you “keep your close on.”
A wave of policy support to stabilize the world economy has left developed nations with a growing public debt load. What path will governments follow to address the issue? History offers several debt-reduction templates.
Sovereign bonds have long been the prime defensive asset for multi-asset portfolios. But in today’s extraordinary market conditions, should investors make more extensive use of other defensive choices?
Equity investors in emerging markets (EM) typically focus on large-cap companies. But allocating to smaller companies can help broaden an EM allocation by providing a different mix of exposures to opportunities across countries and sectors—and can bring potential for higher added value.
With US elections about two months away, investors are intensifying their focus on the presidential and congressional contests. Historically, political transitions haven’t had much impact on the economy and markets, but this time could be different.
Many investors are looking for emerging signs of a return to normalcy from the coronavirus crisis. While there are many indicators to choose from, we’ve assembled a group of signals, with the help of big data, that may point the way.
As technology stocks of all shapes continue to surge, many investors are questioning whether they’re now overpriced. But even at high valuations, we think the tech landscape is still dotted with long-term growth potential.
During the coronavirus downturn and rebound, US growth stocks outpaced value stocks by a record margin. Now growth stocks seem expensive, but that depends on how you look at it.
Capital markets have rebounded from their COVID-19-induced lows, but impacted industries have lagged substantially. That pessimism may be overdone in some cases, creating opportunities for multi-asset investors to exploit dislocations.
Investors flock to municipals to meet safety, income and after-tax return goals. But investors should consider how they gain exposure to the asset class.
Interest rates are at extreme lows around the world, and they’ll likely stay low for some time. Does this mean US-based investors should revert to a US-only bond strategy?
One of the biggest differences between live and virtual meetings is the importance of visual illustrations. Virtual interactions are the perfect medium for using pictures to support a sales presentation. In fact, illustrations can make the difference between a successful encounter and a waste of time.
In a world of uncertainty, many investors choose to diversify, rather than investing in a concentrated strategy. But this year, a portfolio of just the five largest US stocks would have significantly outperformed. So, is there a way to reduce risk and to capture long-term growth in a concentrated portfolio?
Cut off from meeting in person. Reliant on videoconferencing. Trying to stay interesting and relevant. Advisors are searching for ways to be useful to clients and prospects. Here are four techniques that can help.
Cash may still be king, but cashless commerce is rapidly becoming the new king. The revolution in digitalization of commerce is already generating growth in transaction value of roughly 24 percent per year over the last three years.
Growing challenges to banks have weighed on recovery hopes for value stocks. But our research of Japan’s experience and global value trends suggests value stocks don’t necessarily need financials to turn the corner.
US household income has held steady, but only because of stimulus checks and enhanced unemployment benefits. As Congress debates the shape and scope of the next package, economic data show a clear need for more help sooner rather than later.
Government bond yields have tumbled globally but China’s yields have risen to pre-COVID-19 levels. The RMB hasn’t yet reacted to the favorable rate difference, and we think bond yields are likely to decline moving forward—a favorable landscape for China bonds.
As more companies tap government stimulus funds, questions are being asked about how shareholders may be affected. To answer these questions, investors must assess how corporate behavior and stakeholder engagement will shape a company’s long-term outlook.
Several equity factors diverged significantly from their typical performance patterns during the COVID-19 crisis. By understanding how factor returns behaved in this market correction relative to their historic norms, investors can not only prepare for future volatility but also take advantage of short-term market dislocations.
US Investment-grade corporate bond issuance has rolled past US$1 trillion so far in 2020. What are the long-term effects of this explosive borrowing?
Virtual meetings significantly reduce the role of social instincts, and attendees often feel the freedom to multitask or disengage. However, by taking a proactive approach, you can keep virtual meetings on track.
Investors increasingly want to align their financial goals with a commitment to improving the lives of others. Two recent projects showcase how municipal bond investors are making an impact.
After four days of intense negotiations, EU leaders have reached agreement on a €750 billion recovery fund to help repair the economic damage from COVID-19. It took several concessions to EU creditor countries to break the deadlock. As expected, total grants in the deal have been reduced to €390 billion from an original €500 billion proposal.
