Insights

03/20/2025 Investment Talks

The diverse economic impacts of artificial intelligence

We believe that Artificial Intelligence (AI) could have over the long-term a positive impact on productivity and GDP growth. However, the impact will not be linear across sectors, especially in the early phases. There will be winners and losers in most industries. To be a "winner" a company needs not only to be an early-mover in terms of investing in AI, but also possess a proprietary data advantage, an existing competitive edge based on market position and an ability to innovate successfully. Otherwise, any advantages from using AI technologies could be competed away. In our view, the future winners are most likely to be found among the existing competitively-advantaged companies.

03/14/2025 Investment Talks

Tariffs and European news fuel volatility

Recent market activity has been marked by increased volatility. In the US, this has been mainly driven by growing concerns about the trajectory of the US economy, particularly in light of the erratic statements from President Trump with regard to tariffs. Additionally, the latest economic data has been disappointing. Consequently, the market's expectations for US growth for the current year have been revised downwards. With near-term inflation still well above the Fed’s target and consumer expectations of rising inflation (primarily a function of tariffs), the Fed will likely be forced to hold rates higher for longer to ensure that inflation expectations stay anchored. But, through the course of this year, we believe it will be able to reduce interest rates.

03/14/2025 Investment Talks

Tariffs and European news fuel volatility

Recent market activity has been marked by increased volatility. In the US, this has been mainly driven by growing concerns about the trajectory of the US economy, particularly in light of the erratic statements from President Trump with regard to tariffs. Additionally, the latest economic data has been disappointing. Consequently, the market's expectations for US growth for the current year have been revised downwards. With near-term inflation still well above the Fed’s target and consumer expectations of rising inflation (primarily a function of tariffs), the Fed will likely be forced to hold rates higher for longer to ensure that inflation expectations stay anchored. But, through the course of this year, we believe it will be able to reduce interest rates.

03/10/2025 Investment Talks

Municipal Market Outlook

Unlike the US Treasury curve, the tax-exempt curve remains significantly positively sloped, leading to elevated yields in core and longer-duration municipal strategies. The high yield municipal market, in our view, displays a potential opportunity to provide not only tax-efficient dividends, but also pockets of price appreciation found in select sectors and security themes. In general, we expect credit stability in 2025, with potential policy shifts creating both credit negatives and positives. Some of these policy impacts may be felt in port issuers: broadly applied tariffs could impact bottom lines; hands-off energy policy could benefit traditional energy-producing local agencies and states; and Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement eligibility rate shifts could negatively impact smaller regional health care systems.

03/10/2025 Global Investment Views, Equity, Fixed income

Markets between love and fear

In February, markets showed that love is in the air: despite new tariff announcements, inflation risks, and the DeepSeek shakeup, positive market sentiment continues to prevail. In Europe, equities reached new all-time highs, and in the US, there is evidence of a broadening equity rally, as the dominance of the Magnificent Seven may be starting to fade. However, uncertainty remains at extreme levels, with renewed fears emerging following the higher-than-expected January Consumer Price Index, which recorded its fastest increase in a year and a half, and some weak US economic data.

02/28/2025 Investment Talks

Forming coalition will be easiest of next German chancellor's many challenges

Given the tensions that brought down the last German government, which was a three-party coalition, preference will be given to a two-party coalition to limit the amount of compromise necessary. The most likely coalition is between the CDU/CSU and the SPD.  The German economy, which was in recession for the second year running in 2024, is the weakest economy in the eurozone. Tightening financial conditions, rising energy prices and weakening foreign demand (particularly from China) explain the poor economic performance. Uncertainty over tariffs has been weighing on confidence and domestic demand since the start of the year. 

02/05/2025 Global Investment Views, Equity, Fixed income

Markets: a tug of war between inflation fears and optimism

The Trump 2.0 era is upon us and markets have already become extremely sensitive to inflation data, a trend that will likely last in the coming months. Higher inflation sensitivity has also turned equity/bond correlation back to positive. Markets are currently influenced by two opposing forces: the prospect of Trumponomics reinforces the narrative of US exceptionalism, while the imposition of tariffs introduces uncertainty into global supply chain dynamics and inflation trajectories.

01/28/2025 Cross Asset

Views on China for 2025 and beyond

The economic backdrop foreseen for the next 12 months suggests that the ongoing market correction will continue through the first half of 2023. In the second half of the year, we expect some of the headwinds to abate due to lower price pressures and a hold on interest rate rises. We believe this will support a gradual shift from a defensive stance, with its tilt towards gold, investment grade credit and government bonds, to increased risk exposure through developed market equity and high-quality credit.

01/10/2025 Investment Talks

January 2025 US High Yield Market Outlook & Positioning

Although full year 2024 returns for High Yield were strong and spreads tightened during the fourth quarter, fourth quarter returns were weak with losses in both October and December due to yield curve headwinds. While defaults have moderated over the last few months, Moody’s recently increased its year-end global speculative grade default by issuer forecast to 4.6% on weaker US employment. Moody’s also projects the global default rate by issuer count to decline steadily across 2025, reaching 2.7% by next November.