Investment Insights

US government spending to help the economy cope with the dire consequences of COVID-19 looks set to reach record peacetime levels, but absent a boost to inflation, it is unlikely to set in motion a push for higher interest rates anytime soon. Senior US economist Mark Allan explains.

Equities look set for a positive 2021: last year’s themes and secular change should persist with support coming from factors such as dovish monetary policies. However, risks linger, not least those related to the pandemic. Overall, this constellation makes for a stock pickers’ market, argues Guy Davies, CIO of Equities. Get more on: https://investors-corner.bnpparibas-am.com/

A finite resource in ever growing demand, water represents a durable growth area in both developed markets suffering from underinvestment and emerging markets in need of more infrastructure. As the appreciation of quality water and improved food and health standards grows – not least in the wake of the COVID crisis – so should our endorsement of the breadth of investment opportunities the sector offers. Portfolio manager Justin Winter at Impax Asset Management explains.

Eurozone interest rates are “at the floor” of the short end of the government bond yield curve, pushing investors towards the longer end as they seek areas in fixed income that can still offer an attractive yield. Olivier De Larouziere, global head of multi-strategy group – fixed income, talks to chief market strategist Daniel Morris about the opportunities in the asset class. Get more on: https://investors-corner.bnpparibas-am.com/

Underperformance of multi-factor equity investing in 2020 has led some investors to question the strategy. Raul Leote de Carvalho, deputy head of our quantitative research group, discusses the reasons behind the underperformance with Daniel Morris, chief market strategist. The conversation focuses on the findings of a new research paper by the quantitative research group. This paper, entitled “Equity Factor Investing: Historical Perspective of Recent Performance” provides an extensive analysis of why we think the outlook for multi-factor investing is positive. Get more on: https://investors-corner.bnpparibas-am.com/

How can investors navigate the next phases of the pandemic, its legacy, and the ensuing economic recovery? Can we solve the climate crisis at the same time as the world tackles the social and economic problems laid bare by the pandemic? Daniel Morris, chief market strategist, discusses BNP Paribas Asset Management’s investment outlook for 2021. Get more here: https://investors-corner.bnpparibas-am.com/

A combination of factors is leading global bond investors towards the Chinese bond market. Jean-Charles Sambor, head of emerging market debt, and Daniel Morris, chief market strategist, discuss the rise of Chinese fixed income in our weekly podcast. Get more here: https://investors-corner.bnpparibas-am.com/

Asian equities have come through the pandemic standing tall and the prospects are for a continued strong run as household wealth rises and economies grow. Zhikai Chen, Head of Asian Equities, discusses the case for the asset class with Daniel Morris, Chief Market Strategist. Get more here: https://investors-corner.bnpparibas-am.com/

The main factor determining the US economic outlook has been and will be the course of the pandemic, with the incoming administration’s ability to deal with its effects on the economy and business handicapped by its curtailed legislative power. Dominick DeAlto, CIO fixed income, and Chief Market Strategist Daniel Morris discuss the implications for bond investors and pinpoint the opportunities. Get more here: https://investors-corner.bnpparibas-am.com/

Changing awareness is driving a shift in consumers’ relationship with food, limiting their appetite for animal products and boosting their interest in the environmental, social and health aspects of what ends up on their plates. Food industry research analyst Agne Rackauskaite talks to Chief Market Strategist Daniel Morris about the numerous opportunities this greater consciousness is creating in food investing. Get more here: https://investors-corner.bnpparibas-am.com/

US mortgage-backed securities (MBS) currently offer an attractive yield pick-up over US Treasuries and have even greater appeal over comparable bonds elsewhere, which in many cases bear negative interest rates. John Carey, Head of Structured Securities, talks to Chief Market Strategist Daniel Morris about these high quality fixed income instruments that can help to add yield to portfolios. Get more here: https://investors-corner.bnpparibas-am.com/

China’s stocks appear to have left boom and bust behind. After outpacing major markets since a COVID-induced dip, Chinese equity markets are on a much better footing with the recent gains propelled by a confluence of factors. David Choa, Head of BNP Paribas Asset Management’s Greater China Equities team in Hong Kong, updates Chief Market Strategist Daniel Morris. Get more here: https://investors-corner.bnpparibas-am.com/

Some three weeks ahead of the US presidential election, it is time to assess the latest polls and the implications for economic policy and financial markets of a Trump or Biden win. US economist Mark Allan talks to Chief Market Strategist Daniel Morris about what investors can expect. Get more here: https://investors-corner.bnpparibas-am.com/

The pandemic has caused a quantum leap in growth in areas such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence and automation. Yet this trend may well have much further to run. Guy Davies, CIO of Equities, talks to Chief Market Strategist Daniel Morris about the fundamental drivers in such disruptive technologies and about valuations which may look high, but could well be justified by current market conditions. Get more here: https://investors-corner.bnpparibas-am.com/

The EU’s new targets for emissions reductions are realistic and achievable and should lift the price of CO2, encouraging more emitters to switch to doing business in a more environmentally friendly way. In this podcast, chief sustainability strategist Mark Lewis discusses with senior investment strategist Daniel Morris the EU’s efforts to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, the implications for the carbon market and the workings of the emissions trading system. Get more here: https://investors-corner.bnpparibas-am.com/

Investment in infrastructure debt could provide institutional investors with long-dated, high-quality cash flows. These can serve to match liabilities, provide yield enhancement potential relative to other fixed income instruments and diversify a portfolio. Karen Azoulay, head of infrastructure debt, talks to senior investment strategist Daniel Morris about our approach to investing in infrastructure debt in these challenging times. Get more here: https://investors-corner.bnpparibas-am.com/

Central banks provided economies with ample cash as the economic effects of the COVID-19 health crisis bit, driving down interest rates – and absolute returns – in the process, but as Philippe Renaudin, head of global money markets, tells senior investment strategist Daniel Morris in this interview, careful selection and diversification mean potential for competitive returns remains in this asset class. Get more here: https://investors-corner.bnpparibas-am.com

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated digitalisation trends in education, healthcare and commerce. However, many citizens are at risk of being left behind in the move to a digitalised society. Anu Rames, tech and healthcare analyst for our Sustainability Centre, talks to senior investment strategist Daniel Morris about how we can reduce the risk of digital inequality. Get more here: https://investors-corner.bnpparibas-am.com/

Large-scale stimulus measures, a cyclical bounce for the economy and attractive valuations have converged to brighten the prospects for US small capitalisation stocks. Pamela Woo, head of US equities, shares the details of her views - including comments on the upcoming US election - with Daniel Morris, senior investment strategist. Get more: https://investors-corner.bnpparibas-am.com/

Many emerging markets are displaying an appetite for digital payments and, in the wake of that, e-commerce. This, coupled with the proliferation of smart phones, is engendering wider access to financial services, benefiting economies and local job markets. Senior analyst global emerging market equities Whitney Jiranek talks to Daniel Morris, senior investment strategist, about the role of fintech in facilitating broader financial inclusion and the opportunities it offers for investors. Get more: http://investors-corner.bnpparibas-am.com