Asset Allocation

Two in three fund managers think we are still in a bear market, the latest Bank of America Fud Manager Survey shows. They expect another market correction later this year, most likely caused by a second wave of Covid-19 infections.

As a result of the corona crisis, investors suddenly look at healthcare companies very differently. ‘The pandemic has changed the perception of the sector in the eyes of the outside world,’ says Lydia Haueter, manager of the Pictet Biotech Fund.

Several countries drastically reduced their exposure to US government bonds in March. Treasuries worth $256.6 billion were sold, according to data published by the US Treasury.

According to analysts, the outflow was mainly driven by the fact that a number of emerging countries needed the money to support their own currency. The most important sellers were Saudi Arabia, Brazil and India. Saudi Arabia sold the most with $25.3 billion, but still owns $159 billion worth of Treasuries.

Global dividend yields are expected to fall between 15 and 35% this year as the coronavirus pandemic hits companies’ earnings, according to Janus Henderson Investors.

In the fastest and deepest correction we’ve ever seen, ESG strategies have held up relatively well. A webinar organised between Natixis Investment Managers and its affiliate asset managers Thematics AM and Mirova, the reasons behind this were discussed.

Romain Boscher of Fidelity expects a sharp divergence in stock market performance during the recovery phase, with financial health as the decisive factor.

‘Earnings expectations continue to deteriorate rapidly, and we are now expecting a decline of at least 20% in the most favourable scenario, with a potential decline of 30-40% in the least favourable assumptions,’ says Boscher, Global CIO Equities at Fidelity International.

US government debt is rising rapidly and the economy has come to a virtual standstill because of the coronavirus. However, treasury yields have never been this low. Yet, real alternatives to treasuries as a safe haven investment have yet to emerge, according to Quentin Fitzsimmons.

Chief economists are all waiting for the gradual lifting of lockdown measures. But otherwise, there’s little that unites them. Some are optimistic for the recovery to continue, while other believe markets are ahead of themselves.

The corona crisis is severely compromising the growth prospects of the world economy. ‘The stagnation of new infections in the main industrialised countries is good news, although concerns about certain emerging countries such as Russia, India and Brazil remain,’ says Keith Wade (pictured), chief economist at Schroders.

With a balanced performance since the beginning of 2020, Jupiter Dynamic Bond has confirmed its attractive status in the field of flexible and globally diversified bond funds. However, according to its manager, it is still too early to raise the portfolio’s risk level.

Companies with above average sustainability profile held up better during the first month of the corona crisis. The crisis thus confirms the importance of ESG integration not only from a climatic and social perspective, but also from a financial perspective.