US Manager Universe Statistics: Third Quarter 2018
This chart book presents representative long-only and hedge fund manager performance for third quarter 2018.
Credit/Fixed Income
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…
Rising from the Ashes: Key Developments Since the Global Financial Crisis
In this report, we briefly highlight five key post-GFC developments and discuss how investors might adapt their portfolios to these changes.
Infrastructure Debt: Understanding the Opportunity
With underlying assets that provide essential services, infrastructure debt can play a key role in institutional investor portfolios. In this research note, we review how infrastructure debt has evolved, discuss its investment qualities, and highlight a few thoughts for those considering an allocation.
Are the Credit Bears Getting Lost in the Woods?
Worries over the health of US credit markets have risen in recent months, with numerous reports highlighting the growing vulnerability of indebted companies (and thus investors) to rising rates and a potential turn in the economic cycle. This paper provides our updated thoughts across US credit markets, as well as some tactical tilts investors could employ to help navigate a few of these headwinds.
Amid Rising Risks, Should Investors Maintain Credit Allocations?
Yes, but investors should be selective in allocating to credit markets at this point in the cycle, and understand that the overvaluation of many credit assets could make attractive returns hard to come by.
Senior Loans: Recovery Rates May Fall in Next Downturn
The recovery rate on senior loans looks poised to fall in the next cyclical downturn, as weaker structures and terms impact the market. In this research note, we highlight our concerns and consider how the cocktail of unitranche loans, inflated cash flow assumptions, and weak terms could threaten recoveries in the next cyclical downturn.
US Manager Universe Statistics: Second Quarter 2018
This chart book presents representative long-only and hedge fund manager performance for second quarter 2018. The median US Small-Cap Growth manager posted the highest median return for both second quarter 2018 (8.7%) and the one-year period ending June 30, 2018 (25.4%). The median Emerging and Frontier Markets Equity manager posted the lowest median return for second quarter 2018, returning -8.6%, and the median Emerging Markets Debt manager suffered the worst performance for the one-year period ending June 30, 2018 (-1.6%).
Review of Market Performance: Fiscal Year 2018
Equity markets and commodity-related assets outperformed other asset classes, while monetary policy expectations continued to negatively impact bond markets during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018. This brief chart book looks at returns and other market metrics for fiscal year 2018.
Should Fixed Income Derivatives Play a Role in Liability Hedging for Pension Plans?
Yes. Since fixed income derivatives are more capital efficient and flexible than physical bonds, they can play a key role in liability hedging for many corporate and other single-employer pension plans.