Adjusting to a world with COVID-19: Market and economic impacts

With many countries and regions in Asia gradually easing their COVID-19 restrictions and resuming work, is now the time for investors to review their portfolios? If so, what are the investment themes that will drive Asian and Greater China markets? In this webinar, you can find out what Manulife Investment Management’s experts think will happen next and where we believe investment opportunities lie in Asian markets. We explore the three crucial trends in Asia right now: more digital, more debt, and less global. We also examine the advantages of investing in North Asia.

With many countries and regions in Asia gradually easing their COVID-19 restrictions and resuming work, is now the time for investors to review their portfolios? If so, what are the investment themes that will drive Asian and Greater China markets? In this webinar, you can find out what Manulife Investment Management’s experts think will happen next and where we believe investment opportunities lie in Asian markets. Hear from our speakers why Asian bonds, which have high credit quality, is an increasingly attractive asset class.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused massive economic and market dislocations in the first quarter of 2020. Manulife Investment Management’s senior global investment professionals share their perspectives on the longer-term outlook for the disease and the related economic and market impacts.

Hear from our experts:
Christopher Conkey, Global Head of Public Markets, Manulife Investment Management
Steve Slaughter, Managing Director and Portfolio Manager, Global Health Care Strategy
Frances Donald, Global Chief Economist & Global Head of Macroeconomic Strategy
Nathan Thooft, Senior Managing Director, Head of Global Asset Allocation

Over the past decade, the Asian fixed income universe has benefited from significantly improved
economic fundamentals and has grown to become one of the largest regional bond markets in the
world, supported by institutional, regulatory and infrastructure reforms.

Neal Capecci, Portfolio Manager, Fixed Income, Pan-Asia Bonds, shares his views on how these
developments, alongside the manifold sources of growth and the region’s increasingly accommodative
monetary policy, have created a quality, liquid, standalone market, which offers attractive real yields
and diverse investment opportunities.

Finally as the year draws to a close, Neal will look ahead to 2020 and consider the prospects and
challenges the new year may bring.

Tackling risks related to climate change has become an increasingly important priority for investors. Sustainable investing is one way in which the investment community can help to address climate-related risks. Our Global Head of ESG Research and Integration Emily Chew shares her insight.

Neal Capecci, portfolio manager, Asian fixed income, addresses some topical themes relating to Asian bonds and what makes the Asian fixed-income space stand out right now in a global context

Neal Capecci, portfolio manager, Asian fixed income, addresses some topical themes relating to Asian bonds and what makes the Asian fixed-income space stand out right now in a global context

The Fed cuts rates—will there be more to come?

The U.S. Federal Reserve's decision to cut interest rates by 25 basis points on Wednesday has been widely expected and shouldn't surprise anyone. But whether the central bank has done enough to revive economic growth continues to be the focus of many heated debates among market participants.

Margaret Childe, Director of ESG Research and Integration at Manulife Investment Management discusses the fundamentals of sustainable investing, how ESG factors are used in portfolio construction and emerging themes and regulation that are driving the shift towards sustainable finance.