Fixed income: why now, what areas, and how to get involved

After a decade of low growth, low rates and low bond yields, fixed income is interesting again. As the world moves past Covid-19, the subsequent disruptive global reopening and the invasion of Ukraine, subsiding inflation suggests a turning point in the rate cycle. This is a chance to secure exceptional income from bond investments in Global Rates, Investment Grade, High Yield and Emerging Markets. However, the geopolitical order remains in flux and there is debate over how to price inflation and growth prospects. With risk premia driven to tight levels, credit spreads over risk-free government bond yields are well below historical averages. The rotation should be broadly positive for fixed income. But the opportunity demands careful navigation and a dynamic approach to ensure consistent, risk-adjusted returns both within and across asset classes. Active management helps investors focus on the best valuation opportunities, exploiting inefficient markets and research insights to generate alpha through allocation and security selection. Presented by: – Adrian Hilton, Head of Emerging Market Debt, Columbia Threadneedle Investments – Roman Gaiser, Head of Fixed Income and High Yield, EMEA, Columbia Threadneedle Investments Moderated by: Brendan Maton