For investment professionals only. Not for onward distribution. Issued by M&G Securities Limited and M&G International Investments Ltd. Both are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK. Please see Bondvigilantes.com for further information.

 

 

While 2018 has been a mixed year for bond investors so far, with many indices posting negative returns, the US high yield market has – perhaps surprisingly – managed to navigate its way through the turbulence. The sector’s intrinsically shorter duration than its investment grade counterpart may explain part of the divergence, but this is only part of the story.

Watch the latest episode of BVTV to find out what other factors have caused the performance of the two markets to decouple so far this year. Also – after a challenging first half of the year for the emerging markets, what do EM HY valuations look like today?

For investment professionals only. Not for onward distribution. Issued by M&G Securities Limited and M&G International Investments Ltd. Both are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK. Please see Bondvigilantes.com for further information.

 

 

Last time I was on BVTV, we touched on how Apple’s market cap is rapidly approaching that of all Europe’s banks combined, prompting me to focus in on the tech sector today, as I try to answer some of the questions that we are most frequently asked by clients. In particular, what are the similarities and differences between 2000 and 2018, and why is momentum (aka hope) currently winning out in the epic battle of earnings vs hope? Tune in as I take a look behind the scenes at what’s driving developments in the sector.

For investment professionals only. Not for onward distribution. Issued by M&G Securities Limited and M&G International Investments Ltd. Both are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK. Please see Bondvigilantes.com for further information.

 

 

Toys R Us and House of Fraser are some of the high street names that have faced tough competition from online retailers in recent years. Is the bricks and mortar model passé? Are some industries more resilient than others? And what does this mean for investors? Watch M&G’s Stephen Wilson-Smith explain how a French beauty giant sells more products online than in Latin America and how a US ice-cream maker broke down high barriers of entry to beat long-established rivals.

For investment professionals only. Not for onward distribution. Issued by M&G Securities Limited and M&G International Investments Ltd. Both are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK. Please see Bondvigilantes.com for further information.

 

 

As we have now reached the halfway point of 2018, it seems like a good occasion to take stock and see whether the year has lived up to consensus expectations so far. With more news surprises and volatility so far than in 2017, how do the market’s predictions for which asset classes would perform best look today? Watch the latest episode of BVTV as I review year-to-date returns and look at why there has been divergence between expectations and reality.

For investment professionals only. Not for onward distribution. Issued by M&G Securities Limited and M&G International Investments Ltd. Both are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK. Please see Bondvigilantes.com for further information.

 

 

 

We have already seen several corrections in credit markets so far this year, providing a good opportunity to analyse these episodes from a volatility perspective to see whether they have created good entry points into previously expensive markets. Finding a good entry point is just the first step though. Next, we must consider whether cash bonds, or CDS, look more attractive.

Tune in to this week’s episode as I share three reasons to be constructive on credit right now, and what other factors we need to keep in mind.

For investment professionals only. Not for onward distribution. Issued by M&G Securities Limited and M&G International Investments Ltd. Both are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK. Please see Bondvigilantes.com for further information.

 

 

 

The combination of the US-North Korea summit, crucial Brexit negotiations in the UK, mounting trade tensions, and a raft of central bank activity led some commentators to forecast that this would be the biggest week of the year. In fact, the beginning of the week was rather underwhelming, and it took a dovish ECB to really move markets. See how it all unfolded on today’s episode of Bond Vigilantes TV.

For investment professionals only. Not for onward distribution. Issued by M&G Securities Limited and M&G International Investments Ltd. Both are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK. Please see Bondvigilantes.com for further information.

 

 

 

Emerging market currencies have been back in the spotlight in recent weeks after significant repricing – so it seems like a good time to lift the lid on how we think about currency trading. While there are many different aspects to take into consideration, there are three key factors – carry, valuations and fundamentals – that we keep front of mind.

With lower returns from bonds in recent years, currencies may have an increasingly important role to play in future, so watch BVTV to find out more.

For investment professionals only. Not for onward distribution. Issued by M&G Securities Limited and M&G International Investments Ltd. Both are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK. Please see Bondvigilantes.com for further information.

 

 

While political instability is nothing new for Italy, last week’s developments have triggered major market moves. The 10-year Italian government spread to Bunds jumped to as high as 288bps last week, which is an impressive move if you consider that investors were only asking for a risk premium of 122bps at the beginning of the month. Despite a rebound in markets towards the end of the week, the spread to Bunds remains elevated. In an environment where government bonds are experiencing such significant moves, I am particularly interested to see how Italian high yield credits are coping. High yield fund manager James Tomlins joined me this morning to discuss these highly timely topics – tune in to hear James’ thoughts on prospects for Italian businesses with heightened credit risk.

For investment professionals only. Not for onward distribution. Issued by M&G Securities Limited and M&G International Investments Ltd. Both are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK. Please see Bondvigilantes.com for further information.

 

 

 

 

After a significant policy error at the end of last year, Argentina has once again found itself in trouble – and back in the headlines –  in recent months, suffering from dented credibility and a fast depreciating peso. This morning on BVTV, I look at whether current levels now offer a buying opportunity.

Also this morning: what’s behind EM FX market weakness, and is it actually a US dollar story, rather than one of EM woes? And, with the oil price still climbing, are Russian credit spread levels too pessimistic?

Tune in for our latest thoughts!

For investment professionals only. Not for onward distribution. Issued by M&G Securities Limited and M&G International Investments Ltd. Both are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK. Please see Bondvigilantes.com for further information.

 

 

Having lagged the broader market somewhat last year, US banks are expected to see revenue gains in 2018 as interest rates continue their rise. By contrast, the picture in Europe is less rosy, and earnings catalysts remain hard to find.

Stephanie Betts, an investment specialist in M&G’s equities team, joined me this morning to discuss prospects for bond and equity investors. Tune in to hear us discuss the diverging outlooks.