My Fund Comparison
Initilizing list...
|
The Global Investment Landscape:
A Look at Fixed Income
Summary:
• The fixed income market landscape in emerging markets has been very strong over the last 12 months. Today, spreads are sitting at about 285 basis points.
• Significant value in global fixed income is believed to be in emerging markets. Specifically, markets like Brazil, Mexico, India, Egypt, and Peru are projected to offer very significant value.
• There is a wide variety of opportunity within the emerging market fixed income space, making it advisable for investors to work with an active manager.
• With global economies – both developed and emerging – at different economic cycles, it’s crucial for investors to evaluate how these changes impact global fixed income investments.
To ensure investors are better equipped to assess risks and opportunities in the global fixed income space, the Closed-End Fund Association (CEFA) spoke with Rennie McConnochie, Head of Global Banks — Aberdeen Standard Investments, and Gary Herbert, CFA, Portfolio Manager and Head of Global Credit – Brandywine Global.
The following Q&A recaps the conversation that originally took place as part of CEFA’s podcast series on January 19, 2018, which can be heard here. |
Rennie McConnochie |
Gary Herbert |
Libby Hastert |
| Speaker: |
Welcome and thanks for joining the Closed-End Fund Association for another discussion. Today we will hear from an industry expert who shared insight on a timely issue affecting the closed-end fund space.
|
| LH: |
Hello, I'm Libby Hastert, Content Specialist at the Closed-End Fund Association. This morning we're speaking to Rennie McConnochie, Head of Global Banks at Aberdeen Standard Investments, and Gary Herbert, CFA, and portfolio manager and Head of Global Credit with Brandywine Global. Both Aberdeen and Brandywine offer various fixed income investments on the global frontier, making Rennie and Gary's perspectives especially interesting.
Here in the US, we're seeing solid growth, tax reform, and the Federal Reserve appears to be on a steady path of increasing interest rates. Globally, developed markets and emerging markets may be at different points in the economic cycle. Here to discuss the markets and opportunities outside of the US are today's speakers.
Rennie, Gary, thanks for making time this morning. We'll turn things over to you. Rennie, not unlike today's discussion, we spoke with you back in June about the global landscape.
Aberdeen Standard Investments has particular expertise in emerging markets. What's the current fixed income environment across emerging markets?
|
| RMC: |
Yes, thank you very much for the question and for having me on the
podcast here. The fixed income market landscape in emerging markets has been
very strong over the last 12 months. If you look at the hard currency market,
that returned just over 10% for 2017, and local currency markets returned around
15%. There are subsets of those in terms of sovereigns, corporates, and so on
and so forth, but that gives you a pretty good feel for how strong fixed income
markets have been in the emerging markets area. Interesting because the year
where we saw the Fed raise rates, a lot of investors have always historically
been worried about EMD and EM equities for that matter underperforming in a
rising-rate environment, but that's clearly not the case in 2017. There are a
number of reasons for that.
Firstly, I think it's fair to say the Fed flagged its rate rises
pretty clearly, so markets were prepared. The second point is that the strength
of corporate and fiscal balance sheets in emerging markets in general terms,
there are a number of exceptions but in general terms, remains pretty strong.
The results are the possibility of hot money leaving markets on rate rises
hasn't occurred. I think the environment remains a positive one. It's been a
very good year, 2017, to have been exposed to emerging markets fixed income.
Spreads are now sitting at about 285 basis points, so they've continued to
grind in, and investors have made good money.
|
| LH: |
Great. Gary, if we can go ahead and look at the
opposite end of the spectrum, can you tell us about your sense of the fixed
income environment in more developed markets like Europe and Japan, for
instance?
|
| GH: |
Thank you, Libby. Our viewpoint on the fixed
income markets in developed segments like the UK, like Continental Europe and
Japan, we see a high degree of overvaluation. We see stronger economies, better
economic growth obviously caused by or affected by, I would argue, unorthodox
monetary policy. We think some of that will be pulled away over time. Because
there's stronger economic growth and modestly rising, and again I'll use the
key term modestly rising, inflation expectations, we think most of those
developed market yield curves offer very little value. One only needs to look
at the German yield at -15 basis points or so and recognize that there's a high
degree of overvaluation. Having a lot of interest rate sensitivity or exposure
to what we would characterize are negative real yield sovereign bond markets in
the UK, in Continental Europe, and in Japan, we think makes for a money-losing
proposition. We do not favor exposures to that market and in fact believe they
are very, very richly valued at this point in time.
|
| LH: |
Gary, where are you currently finding value in
the global fixed income market outside of Europe and Japan, and how do you
factor in the currency aspect when you're identifying these opportunities?
|
| GH: |
Where we see significant value in global fixed income is in fact
in the emerging markets. Markets like Brazil, markets like Mexico, India,
Egypt, Peru to us offer very significant value. What drives us or what helps
determine value for us is real yield. That is the sovereign bond yield above
forward-looking inflation expectations. When we see an attractive real yield
pickup, that from our perspective, if inflation is under control or in fact
even in certain cases declining, and there's better economic growth on the
horizon, tends to be very attractive. What we're doing or have been doing has
been making sure that our portfolio is exposed to emerging markets that offer
those high real yields. Those are in the Latin American regions as well as in
the Asian regions, and instead avoiding developed market bond opportunities.
Currency, the key point on this when I highlight those opportunities is
from our perspective, we think the key point is to take those exposures in
local currency terms. Those currency valuations in many of those markets had a
severe price correction during the period of about 2013 to 2015. From our
perspective, the biggest value anomaly is actually owning those sovereign bonds
in local currency terms. That offers a very significant real yield pickup, and
we think and we've seen over the last year and a half or so an attractive
compensation for bearing that risk in local currency terms. You'll be able to
capture not only the real yield but also see currency appreciation relative to
the US dollar. Owning this exposure in local currency has been very important for
us.
|
| LH: |
Thanks, Gary. Rennie, turning things back over
to emerging markets, we often refer to them as if they're all the same, but
clearly there are some important differences to make. Can you elaborate on how
that is affected across country to country? Does this able an active manager to
add significant value in selecting fixed income investments? Lastly, what
markets are really interesting to you currently?
|
| RMC: |
Just to pick up on the point that Gary was making there, and I
completely agree with everything he said about the lack of value in most
developed markets and the emerging market areas looking a lot more interesting,
there is no doubt that one of the other factors that have been at work in the
emerging markets fixed income area is this hunt for yield precisely because
there is literally very little income left in terms of what's been paid out in
developed markets. As Gary rightly points out, some market yields are still negative.
The real returns that are being generated in a number of the EMD marketplaces
really do look attractive. Yes, spreads have come in, but to Gary's point,
there are still a number of markets where you are being compensated for taking
risk. It's much more difficult to see that in the developed markets. I think
he's absolutely correct to focus on those relative attractions in themselves.
You are right in terms of what you proposed in your question
there. I think a lot of investors historically just say the term emerging
markets, and it's a homogenous coverall term. In fact, underneath that you've
got any number of different types of market opportunities depending on the
countries you're looking at. In a number of countries you've got strong
institutions, strong central banks, independent central banks where the
governments don't interfere, where they're targeting inflation, and managing
those exposures very well. I think if you look at the changes that have taken
place, for example, in India over the last few years, the central bank has
become much more independent under Rajan, and we've seen inflation targeting
put in place. Even after Rajan moved on, there's a very like-minded gentleman
replaced him, and the central bank is still running its inflation policy
tightly. Indeed, I think the next moves in India will be a tightening of rates.
That's a very good example of a market where the sovereign balance sheet has
been run very well.
Then you can look at something like South Africa, which frankly
has been a complete mess. You had any number of attempts to interfere with the
central bank and interest rate policy, changes in the finance ministry, and
Zuma definitely trying to influence what's going on within the institutions of
the country. The sovereign balance sheet has just got weaker, and weaker, and
weaker, and the rand has fallen precipitously, bond yields have continued to
rise. Right at the end of last year after Ramaphosa won the nomination to the
head of the ANC, you saw very significant rallies both in terms of bond and
currency. There's an example of where politics are driving valuations. The
example I mentioned before of India, valuations are being driven by economic
fundamentals. Just using those two examples, you can see that there are really big
differences depending on the markets you look at.
Again, if you look at other markets, Mexico, we've seen rates go up. I
mentioned that India, the next move will be tightening. Indonesia, the last
moves were cutting, Russia, cutting, China, very modest tightening post the
latest Fed move. Different markets offer different possibilities. Some
economies are run very well, others much less so. Different markets are at
different stages of economic cycles. There really is a very wide variety of
opportunity within the emerging market fixed income space, and therefore I
think from an investor's point of view you want to work with the manager that
is highly active in the space, high active market share within portfolios to
take advantage of all the opportunities that are there. Given the variety of
opportunities, active management, I think, is really the only way to play this
space. Indeed, if you look at passive vehicles, there's an awful lot of markets
just are not included in indexes at all, and so you really do narrow your
opportunity set. Yes, I think it is a market that lends itself to active
management.
|
| LH: |
Rennie, I think one of the things you made clear
when you were talking about these emerging markets is that while yes, working
with an active manager can help enhance your investments, there's always risk
with all the opportunities. Gary, turning things over to you, what risk factors
should investors be sensitive to, especially when they're investing in fixed
income outside of the US?
|
| GH: |
Sure. I think Rennie's touched on some of the points, but I would
say political risk, whether it's in Mexico or South Africa, that we've seen
recently, Turkey as well it's been prevalent in, that's a major element of
investing in emerging markets. It's certainly been the case with Brazil, the
darling of the emerging markets over the last year or so. That political risk
is really something that is prevalent when investing in fixed income outside of
the US. You can even argue that it's important now in investing in the US
markets as well when we've got our own political issues here domestically.
That's one of the factors that one needs to consider in terms of investing
outside the US is the political impact that events can have on yield curves as
well as currency valuations.
As well, I would say credit risk. This is a conversation that's
not just focused on sovereign bonds but also corporates. Whether it's
investment grade or high yield, when seeking additional yield opportunities
outside the US, typically credit is a consideration. That credit or default
probability risk is embedded in some of those corporate instruments whether
they're investment grade, high yield, or even structured credit instruments. We
look at mortgage investments, asset-backed investments globally, as well as
credit investments globally. That's a key factor as well to think about when
investing outside the US as well as in certain cases inside the US.
I would argue the overarching risk today is the concept of
inflation risk. Whether we will, in fact, see inflation, if it does rear its
head over time, that's probably a principal risk that many investors, whether
they're in sovereign or credit instruments, are not necessarily well-prepared
for. It's our expectation that inflation will be relatively subdued. It's not
something we can neglect, but we think it's something that is unlikely to
revalue portfolios negatively in the shorter term. That's another risk that one
needs to consider in terms of portfolios.
Finally, because we take a lot of our exposures now, Rennie and I have
both highlighted that there are opportunities in emerging markets and in local
currency terms, we would argue that there's currency risk when trying to pick
up these higher real yield opportunities. That's both a risk as well as an
opportunity. Having a process that identifies real yield or the potential for
price appreciation, these currencies vis-à-vis the dollar or another currency
is really important. Those would be principle risks in portfolios, political
risk, inflation risk, credit risk, and currency risk.
|
| LH: |
Rennie, Gary obviously touched on inflation. In
the US, Europe, and Japan, inflation has been relatively low for some time, but
inflation in emerging markets can be a lot more volatile. How do you address
that risk in your EM fixed income portfolios, Rennie?
|
| RMC: |
We'll talk a little bit about inflation. I just want to add one
more thing to Gary's very solid analysis of risks. The one other thing I think
investors have to be very wise to is also liquidity risk. In an environment
where you've got a number of investors who are graying their exposure to EMD
because they love the asset class, and that's great, you may have other
investors who are merely just hunting for yield and finding yield in a different
part of the market they may not know so well. A number of these areas,
particularly when you start to see some selloffs, you suddenly find there isn't
any bid for your paper. Investors have to be cognizant of liquidity risk as
well as all the other points Gary very rightly made.
Yes, inflation is one of those risks. To Gary's point, in
developed markets at the moment, inflation is probably very much a tail risk in
most people's eyes. That may be right and may be wrong, but I haven't seen much
change in the view of the lower for longer environment in terms of rates, be it
the US, be it Europe, or be it Japan. As you rightly say, the emerging markets
inflation picture is both different and varied. One of the other points I'd
like to make is it's not necessarily inflation itself that is a risk. One
should be much more focused on the direction of inflation because some of the
fixed income markets with the very highest levels of inflation have provided
some of the strongest returns because that inflation is coming down
significantly. I'm thinking in particular over the last 12 months, even though
it's got a little bit bumpier again, I'm thinking of Argentina as a good
example of that.
What the market rewards is a change in the trend to a downward
trend in inflation, and then you can get some very exciting returns. That very
often is coupled with stronger currency as well. To Gary's point, some of the
local currency returns in those environments can start to look very attractive.
It's not just looking at a country and saying inflation is high. Where is
inflation going? What is the central bank doing about rates? Is it hiking rates
to push inflation down, and then analyzing what's happening there. Again, I
touched on it before, some countries have very strong governmental and economic
institutions where they run very sensible independent policy, others much less
so. Again, when you're looking at inflation risk, you should be a lot more
nervous of those countries where the institutions are weak. I mentioned South
Africa before. I think that is a very good example. If you want to go right to
the basket case end of things, looking at Venezuela, the latest data implies
the Venezuelan economy imploded by over 16% last year, currency plummeting, and
very, very high levels of inflation. Inflation is a risk, definitely.
I think speaking very generally, if you look at where the emerging
market world is now relative to 10 or 15 years ago, in general terms economic
institutions are a lot stronger. Central banks tend to be more independent.
Fiscal balance sheets are stronger. Corporate balance sheets in the EM world
are stronger. Again, it clearly varies from country to country, but I think the
last real big crisis, particularly in Asia in the late '90s, taught a number of
these countries some very strong lessons. They have been managing their
economies significantly more prudently. Is inflation a bigger risk in the EM
world than it is in the developed world? Absolutely, but are there countries
where that risk is diminished and fiscal management is strong? Absolutely as
well.
A country like India, which I touched on before, we think the Indian
story is a very, very good story where you've seen inflation brought under
control. You've seen all sorts of other reforms taking place within the
economy. We think the Indian bond story remains a very attractive story. We've
seen significant flows into a product we have in that marketplace. If you look
at correlations, India really has not been correlated at all to say the US, or
European cycles, or anything like that. The reform story there remains strong.
I think it's a classic example of an emerging market where the economy and the
interest rate cycles within that are being managed very efficiently and
continuing to produce very attractive and significant real returns.
|
| LH: |
Thanks, Rennie, and thank you both. You've given
investors a lot to think about today. I'd like to wrap things up by asking you
each to, if you could in an elevator speech-kind-of-way, tell investors what
you think the advantage is to using a closed-end fund to access global bond
markets. I think that'd be great. Rennie, do you just want to give us your
viewpoint?
|
| RMC: |
Yeah. I think closed-end funds are a very good way to access
emerging markets in general and fixed income within emerging markets in
particular. There are a number of reasons for that, and some of them I've
touched on. We talked about liquidity. One of the great assets of the
closed-end fund structure is that you can't have redemptions. You don't run
into liquidity issues because you have to supply investors with capital if they
wish to withdraw it. Investors, as you know, buy shares in the fund, and the
fund manager does not become a distressed seller of assets in an illiquid
market as in when the storms roll in. For liquidity reasons, it makes sense.
Again, because of the permanence of capital, the fund can be fully invested.
That will maximize the return on your investment. The fund can be levered.
Leverage always has to be very closely monitored, particularly in more volatile
markets, but that leverage will over time allow you to increase the income
returns you receive on your investment.
Then the last point I'd like to mention is that, as I said, an awful lot
of the opportunities in emerging market bonds are not covered in the emerging
market indices run by JP Morgan or anyone else for that matter. If you go with
a passive product, you really do narrow your investment opportunity, and
therefore the potential returns you can make. I really don't think a passive
vehicle is appropriate here. There are a number of other areas where passive
vehicles can make an awful lot of sense, but I don't believe they make sense in
these markets. I think the closed-end fund really is almost an optimum
structure for investors to gain exposure to these markets.
|
| LH: |
Gary, is there anything you'd leave investors with?
|
| GH: |
Yeah. I'd reiterate some of those points. I would basically
summarize it with four key points, access to markets that may otherwise be challenging
to get. Think of places like Argentina or Egypt, particularly in local currency
terms. A closed-end fund can give you that access, I think, in a very efficient
manner. Two, typically closed-end funds offer very high-income distributions.
They typically pay out income monthly. I think that's very attractive for most
investors. A dividend is set typically in a fixed-rate format. It allows the
end client to plan accordingly given that they're sometimes dependent upon that
income. Third, and Rennie touched on this, when there are challenges in the
markets, we don't face significant redemptions. When you saw value in a
particular emerging market, oftentimes you have the ability to add more
exposure when those markets get on the margin cheaper, and you're not being a
forced seller when there are particular redemptions from a more open-ended
fund.
Then fourth, leverage. If an investor in a closed-end fund likes
what that manager is doing, oftentimes managers will add leverage through
either the bank loan market, the repo market, or the preferred market to
enhance returns and enhance income from their strategy. I would highlight those
four key points in terms of closed-end funds, particularly when trying to
access global bond market opportunities.
|
| LH: |
Gary, Rennie, thanks for joining today's call. I
think that you've given listeners a lot to think about. I really look forward
to seeing where the 2018 global fixed income market takes us.
|
| Speaker: |
Thank you for joining us. We hope you will stop by again for news on this ever changing space. Until next time, connect with us on Twitter at @CEFAssociation, or by searching for the Closed-End Fund Association on LinkedIn and YouTube.
|
Disclosure
I/we have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to
initiate any positions within the next 72 hours.
I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I
am not receiving compensation for it. I have no business relationship with any
company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
---
Income,
yields and distributions are not guaranteed and are subject to change. Active management
does not ensure gains or protect against market declines.
Fixed
income securities are subject to various risks, including but not limited to,
credit, inflation, income, prepayment and interest rates risks. As interest
rates rise, the value of fixed income securities falls. High yield ("junk
bonds") are subject to additional credit risk and a greater risk of
default. International investments are subject to additional risks due to
currency fluctuations, changes in interest rates and other factors. These risks
are greater for emerging markets securities. Investments in mortgage-backed
securities involve additional risks. Leverage may result in greater volatility
and increases the risk of loss.
The Closed-End Funds are not sold or distributed by Legg Mason Investor
Services, LLC (LMIS) or any affiliate of Legg Mason, Inc. Unlike open-end
funds, shares are not continually offered. Like other public companies,
closed-end funds have a one-time initial public offering, and once their shares
are first issued, they are generally bought and sold through non-affiliated
broker/dealers and trade on nationally recognized stock exchanges. Share prices
will fluctuate with market conditions and, at the time of sale, they may be
worth more or less than your original investment. Shares of exchange-traded
closed-end funds may trade at a discount or premium to their original offering
price, and they often trade at a discount to their net asset value.
Past
performance is no guarantee of future results. Opinions shared in
this commentary are current as of January 30, 2018, and are subject to change
based on markets and other conditions. Any information, statement or opinion
set forth herein is general in nature, is not directed to or based on the
financial situation or needs of any particular investor, and does not
constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice, a forecast of
future events, a guarantee of future results, or a recommendation with respect
to any particular security or investment strategy. Investors seeking financial
advice regarding the appropriateness of investing in any securities or
investment strategies should consult their financial professional. Legg Mason
Investor Services, LLC and Brandywine Global Investment Management, LLC are
subsidiaries of Legg Mason, Inc. Aberdeen Standard is not affiliated with Legg
Mason © 2017 Legg Mason Investor Services, LLC. Member FINRA, SIPC.
---
Closed-end funds trade on exchanges at prices that may be more or less than their NAVs. There is no guarantee that an investor can sell shares at a price greater than or equal to the purchase price, or that a CEF’s discount will narrow or be eliminated. CEFs often use leverage, which increases a fund’s risk or volatility. The actual amount of distributions may vary with fund performance and market conditions. Past performance is no guarantee for future results.
|
Resources
abrdn CEF Investor Center
Asset TV — CEF Channel
CEF Connect
Cohen & Steers CEFs Knowledge Center
Harvest — CEFA Channel
Franklin Templeton CEFs
Seeking Alpha — CEFA Channel
|