Beyond the Stars

Mara Dobrescu and Jose Garcia Zarate explain the appeal of fixed term bond funds, why investors don't always get the yield they expect from these products, and how low-cost ETFs might be starting to push this industry in a more investor-friendly direction.

Read the full paper here: European Fixed-Term Bond Funds - Morningstar

Mara Dobrescu and Paul Olmsted take listeners into the world of catastrophe bonds, which pay investors to shoulder the financial risks of earthquakes and hurricanes. Cat bond funds promise attractive yields and diversification. But how feasible is investing in this asset class—and how well do we understand the risks? 

Read the full paper here: Catastrophe Bond Fund Landscape | Morningstar

Michael Born has mapped the global landscape of faith-based funds—covering Christian, Catholic, and Shariah approaches. He stopped by the studio to discuss how doctrinal frameworks shape portfolios, influence costs and performance, and drive investor behavior.

Download the paper here: Faith-Based Investing

Does opting for an ESG strategy over a conventional one mean sacrificing dividend yield? Ronald van Genderen and Henry Ince examined whether equity income funds pay a price for incorporating environmental, social and governance factors into their investment processes. The answer might surprise you!  

Check out the paper here: When Income Meets ESG | Morningstar  

Eugene Gorbatikov explains why persistent outperformance is elusive for actively-managed funds, and when strategies have the best chances to hang on to a winning streak.  

Check out the full paper here: Persistence in European Mutual Fund Performance

Read the paper: ⁠AI in Active Fund Management: The State of Adoption in 2026⁠

Mathieu Caquineau and Monika Calay explain how fund managers are already incorporating AI tools into their investment processes and where the industry’s AI adopters are likely headed next. 

The UK voted to leave the European Union ten years ago. What have the consequences of that decision been for the nation’s equity market? Henry Ince and Michael Born have dug into the data and are here to share their insights into how the Brexit referendum has shaped investor experiences for the past decade—and what opportunities the future might hold.

Read the paper here: https://www.morningstar.com/en-gb/business/insights/research/brexit-impact-on-uk-market

Read the paper here: Opportunities in Artificial Intelligence

There's no denying that AI is fundamentally reshaping both the global economy and our daily lives. But should you reshape your portfolio to include a dedicated AI fund? Michael Field and Kenneth Lamont discuss the pros and cons of AI equities and whether it makes sense to invest in them at the current moment.

Read the papers here:

The State of ELTIFs 2026

LTAF Landscape 2026

Mara Dobrescu and Evangelia Gkeka dive into the growing world of European and UK semiliquid funds aimed at retail investors. Find out what ELTIFs and LTAFs are all about, how regulations in both markets have impacted these products’ development, and what to watch out for as in investor.

Read the paper here:  ⁠The Role of Semiliquid Funds in Portfolios | Morningstar⁠

The mainstreaming of private asset funds is in full swing, but many investors are still confused about what role these products should play in a portfolio. Chris Tate tackles some of the biggest claims being made about semiliquid funds' benefits--from their alleged volatility-smoothing powers to their sometimes eye-popping returns -- and explains what investors should realistically expect when buying one.