Investment Insights

Emerging market equities offer investors a wide range of diversification opportunities across economies with a solid post-pandemic growth profile that include, but also stretch beyond, China and the wider Asian region. Quang Nguyen, head of global emerging market equities, argues the case for a broad perspective and active portfolio management.

Thanks to central bank largesse, corporate bond markets weathered the depth of the Covid crisis well. Risks to credit markets today appear low with gradually improving fundamentals, neutral central bank policy and no major supply-demand imbalances.

On account of the region’s strong economic growth, Asia has a considerable impact on climate change, but at the same time is, perhaps disproportionately, exposed to its effects. That makes engaging with companies and working with the authorities all the more important for investors such as BNP Paribas Asset Management. Paul Milon, Head of stewardship Asia Pacific, explains.

Fund flows to date have massively favoured US equities, but European equities now have considerable scope to catch up as the economic recovery broadens and investors reassess their valuations relative to their more expensive US counterparts. Peter Abbott, European equities portfolio manager, shares his views.

Climate change and pollution are among the factors reducing biodiversity. The result is considerable damage to society and the economy. Robert-Alexandre Poujade, ESG analyst at our Sustainability Centre, warns not to underestimate the consequences of biodiversity loss and underscores the role investors can play in the battle to contain and reverse current trends.

The economic recovery should broaden into a synchronised global upturn in the course of the second half of this year, favouring risky assets including commodities, equities generally and notably emerging market equities. An equity correction should be seen as a buying opportunity, argues Christophe Moulin, Head of Multi Asset.

Inflation has been quiescent in developed economies in recent years. Today, the possibility that we may be on the brink of a secular shift away from the low-flation regime is a topic of intense debate among investors. Nowhere is this more so than in the US where the abundance of fiscal and monetary support is seen by some as irresponsible in creating risks of an inflationary shock. Cedric Scholtes, Head of Global Sovereign, Inflation and Rates, discusses the outlook.

Being open to an inclusive growth approach goes hand in hand with a focus on long-term performance and contributes to a better climate for doing business and investment. As investment specialist Ramon Esteruelas and ESG research analyst Delphine Riou argue, it is also good for profitability and can help mitigate business risk.

Long-term growth trends and innovation continue to create demand for healthcare at a rate that exceeds the pace of economic growth. Jon Stephenson, portfolio manager for healthcare stocks discusses the factors behind rising healthcare expenditure, the impact of the pandemic and the outlook for the sector.

Green bonds have grown and matured as a fixed-income segment over the past decade. The need for climate action has spurred a raft of green projects and activities that combat climate change and other environmental challenges and seek to contribute to a net zero world. Felipe Gordillo and Xuan Sheng Ou Yong answer four questions on this growing market and its outlook.

The outlook for US interest rates is shifting towards a normalisation of central bank policy now that the economic recovery appears to be entrenched. Ken O’Donnell, head of short duration fixed income, discusses how investors could tackle this challenge.

Asian equities rode high early in the year amid optimism over the recovery in China, the new US administration and improved relations with China, and the advent of vaccines. The outlook for investor flows into much of the region has remained positive, even after a valuation-related setback. Four questions for Zhikai Chen, head of Asian equities.

Eliminating carbon dioxide emissions over the coming decades will require multi-billion dollar investments, as well as a wide range of efforts to reduce energy consumption, increase efficiency, electrify and decarbonise processes, and nurture alternative fuels to economic viability. As Thibaud Clisson, senior ESG analyst at our Sustainability centre explains, there are more and more technologies that put the challenging promise of net zero within reach.

Applying factors when selecting corporate bonds for investment helps build a portfolio with a performance that can be shown to be resilient when markets face rising interest rates and increased volatility. Olivier Laplenie and Charles Cresteil explain.

Bond investors may well need to change tack as they navigate a positive outlook for economic growth and the implications that currently has for fixed income returns. Alex Johnson, head of multi-strategy fixed income – absolute return, explains.

The pandemic has led to greater awareness of environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues, both in a personal and business sense. This has reinforced the case for ESG investing as a way to do good while also targeting positive returns. Gabriel Wilson-Otto explains.

Massive financial support from governments and central banks during the lockdowns in 2020 underpinned valuations for European high-yield bonds. The secret to doing well this year will be a total return approach allied to a keen eye for pockets of value, argues high-yield bond portfolio manager Olivier Monnoyeur.

Market mechanisms can play an important role in managing the energy transition. In two markets, recent developments have signalled potential shifts: carbon prices appear to be heading higher in anticipation of the introduction of green hydrogen, while the cost of offshore wind could jump as competition heats up. Chief sustainability strategist Mark Lewis explains.

Private debt and real asset markets can offer investors meaningful return potential along with diversification. David Bouchoucha, head of private debt and real assets, discusses the opportunities of this alternative investment segment. He underscores how important sustainability is in constructing a resilient portfolio.

The pandemic has underscored existential problems, climate change in particular. This is spurring a wave of awareness, ambitious projects and investments in technology that will be crucial for decades to come. Edward Lees, co-portfolio manager in our environmental strategies investment group, explains.