‘Make no mistake: the next six months won’t be pretty’
The era of negative interest rates on government bonds is over, but the moment when government bonds will again generate both portfolio protection and returns is still far away. Especially in Europe, the situation is tough. The ECB has its hands tied. The need to save Italy means Eurozone interest rates can only rise so much. “Make no mistake about it: the next six months won’t be pretty.”
'Risk assets are on the rise, but recession is still to hit'
Following Christine Lagarde’s earlier ‘rookie error’, the newest ECB stimulus package did not come as a surprise for Ella Hoxha, manager of the Pictet Global Bond Fund. Are European bonds now out of the danger zone? ‘The worst should technically be behind us though we’re not out of this crisis yet. The recession hasn’t even begun.’