Renewing the case for short-dated income and lower risk outcomes.

So far, 2018 has been a difficult year for emerging market (EM) assets, which in the last few months have fared significantly worse than their counterparts in developed markets. This has been due mainly to worldwide issues but also country-specific political uncertainty. Many investors are now asking if the sell-off presents a buying opportunity – or are there reasons to remain wary?

How active, benchmark-free strategies and ultra-short-dated credit could enhance cash returns.

It is fair to say that forward guidance doesn’t enjoy a good reputation in the UK. The policy, introduced with some fanfare by Mark Carney on his arrival as Governor of the Bank of England, was meant to give greater clarity about the path of interest rates.

When it comes to Australia, our view within the equities team is one of cautious optimism. What many investors don’t know is that Australia’s economy is heavily reliant on China. In fact, we believe the country’s dependence on China as a trading partner and as a major influence on commodity prices naturally makes China its greatest vulnerability.

Europe’s energy transition depends on resilient networks and flexibility.

Japan has had a sobering 2018 so far, with both growth and inflation coming in below expectations. Is this likely to trigger a policy response, or should we expect more of the same?

What are the prospects for APAC real estate amid market tensions?

2018 has already seen its fair share of surprises. Nearly at the mid-point, we’ve seen a shift (even if temporarily) in US-North Korea relations that was deemed unbelievable just six months ago; the consensus around synchronised global growth has weakened; the US is moving towards protectionism; and the ZTE debacle crushed the myth of world-beating Chinese innovation.

Can short-dated bonds help portfolios stay resilient when uncertainty rises? Lower volatility, smaller drawdowns and income-led returns explain why investors should look again at short-dated fixed income.

Global equity markets have endured a torrid time in the first few months of 2018. The downturn has reached all regions, as concerns about higher interest rates and a potential trade war between the US and China have escalated. But smaller-cap equities have proven relatively resilient during this turbulent period.

After one of its toughest periods in decades, quality investing has been put under the spotlight. We explore why quality has struggled, what’s changing, and why discipline, valuation and fundamentals still matter over the long term.

US companies had an excellent beginning to 2018, as shown by their strong first-quarter corporate profits. European businesses, on the other hand, had a less auspicious start, a fact also reflected in their earnings reports. 

AI leadership isn’t just about better models. It’s about deployment, power and productivity. We examine how the US and China are taking different routes to economic impact.

Over the past 18 months, the term ‘Goldilocks’ has increasingly been used to describe the global economic climate – neither too ‘hot’ to cause rampant inflation, nor too ‘cold’ to fall into recession.

With MyFolio, you can choose from a number of different investment styles. For a full explanation of risks and the overall risk profile of these funds and the shareclasses within it, please refer to the Key Investor Information Documents and Prospectus. Please note that the number contained in the fund name is not related to the synthetic risk and reward indicator contained in the Key Investor Information document.

Seems the cash registers are already ringing in the UK this week. According to consulting firm Brand Finance, Saturday’s royal wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will boost the UK economy by around £1.05 billion.

It’s in times of uncertainty and volatility that great investment opportunities emerge. It’s also during these times when long-term investors need to keep a cool head.