US

Trackers and index funds are the logical choice for investing in US government bonds. Indeed, within long-term dollar bonds, the scope for active management is limited.

While those European investors still in doubt about the importance of ESG are becoming increasingly bogged down in a rearguard action, U.S. states are increasingly passing anti-ESG laws. “If this becomes federal policy, I would underweight the U.S. in the portfolio,” said Gaya Herrington,  a sustainability researcher and advisor to the Club of Rome.

With economic growth slowing down in all three of the world’s major economies, investors are best advised to opt for the geographical region with the least messy outlook, leading international economist Mohammed El-Erian has told a Nordic conference. “The cleanest dirty shirt is in the US.”

While the US and Europe have chosen the path of unprecedented fiscal spending and monetary easing, China is doing the accept opposite. On the long term, this will lead to an appreciation of the renminbi and a depreciating dollar which will push inflation higher in the West, argues GaveKal founder Charles Gave in his latest monthly contribution to Investment Officer.