Credit/Fixed Income

Decades of Data: 1900–2018

In over 40 different analyses and 100 charts, our annual report on the history of global markets provides context for the range of returns investors can expect from equities, bonds, and cash; reveals the importance of various components of equity returns; examines the evidence for equity mean reversion; and reviews the relationship between initial valuations and subsequent returns for equities and bonds. Given the stage of the economic cycle and a shifting paradigm in central bank policy, we incorporate a current market environment section this year. The appendix to this report shows year-by-year, cumulative, and average annual compound returns for as much as 119 years of market data for Australia, Japan, the UK, and the US. Emerging markets equity returns are also included in the appendix—with 30 years of history—in USD and local currency terms.

US Manager Universe Statistics: Fourth Quarter 2018

This chart book presents representative long-only and hedge fund manager performance for fourth quarter 2018. The median US Core Bonds manager posted the highest median return for fourth quarter 2018, returning 1.4%. The median Cash Management manager posted the best returns for the one-year period ending December 31, 2018, with a return of 2.0%. The median US Small-Cap Growth Equity manager posted the lowest median return for fourth quarter 2018 (-20.4%). The median Global ex US Small-Cap manager suffered the worst performance (-19.1%) for the one-year period.

Taking a CLOser Look at CLOs

Demand for collateralized loan obligations (CLOs) has soared in recent years, despite lingering suspicions about asset-backed securities due to their role in the global financial crisis. This paper provides an update on recent trends in the CLO market and discusses what we believe are some of the more attractive implementation options.

US Muni Bonds: The View From the Crow’s Nest

Left unaddressed, the significant and increasing problem of pension underfunding could sink some municipal issuers in the next market downturn. Although investors in high tax brackets will likely continue to benefit from holding municipal bonds as a cornerstone in their portfolios, they should diversify across states and issuers that are better prepared to navigate any rough seas ahead.

Origination Year Defaults: A Canary in the Credit Coal Mine?

When evaluating US credit trends over the last two decades, an institutional loan default that occurs within its year of origination has often been an ominous sign The idea resembles the closely monitored first payment–default metric that consumer lenders track as a bellweather for loan quality A loan default within its year of origination has…