RelatedViewpoints

• CLOs: Cautious Optimism

  Coming off a tumultuous year, CLOs look well-positioned going forward—particularly if the economy continues to heal and rates move higher.

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• CLOs: A Bias Toward Quality

  CLOs continued their rebound in the third quarter, but the potential for volatility going forward is high. In this environment, there may be benefits to moving up in quality.

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• The Evolving Opportunity in Distressed Debt

  As the pandemic recedes, some companies may have a harder time managing higher debt levels than others—and as weaker issuers undergo restructurings or other stressed situations, there may be opportunities for investors to deploy more capital into distressed debt strategies.

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• CLOs: Looking Down the Road to Recovery

  CLOs rallied in the second quarter as liquidity returned and supply/demand dynamics began to normalize. While opportunities have emerged—particularly in high-rated tranches and new issue BBs—active management is key.

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• CLOs: Volatility Continues, But Value Opportunities Emerge

  As macro volatility continued to pummel markets throughout the first quarter, CLOs felt the effects—with dramatic price moves among tranches as investors clamored for liquidity. But we believe that those who invest with an active manager and take a long-term view will benefit.

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• Are CLOs Unfairly Vilified?

  Despite the late-cycle environment, we believe the recent negative headlines on CLOs are somewhat overstated, and do little justice to the many benefits of the asset class—which has delivered impressive risk-adjusted returns and low defaults over time.

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• Risk-on, Risk-off & Repeat

  Sentiment continues to swing back and forth in the collateralized loan obligation (CLO) market, but bifurcation remains the constant.

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• CLOs: When Technicals Create Opportunity

  Taryn Leonard and Melissa Ricco, Co-Heads of the Structured Credit investment team, discuss where they're seeing opportunities and risks today—and why technical factors are creating inefficiencies, and hence opportunities, in the current environment.

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• CLOs: Triple C's and Market Unease

  Taryn Leonard and Melissa Ricco, Co-Heads of Barings’ Structured Credit Investment Team, discuss the recent loan market weakness, and how technical pressures are creating value opportunities in the CLO market.

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• IG CLOs: Strong Excess Return Potential, Lower Volatility

  IG CLOs can offer investors the benefits of spread pick-up and lower mark-to-market volatility, largely due to underlying collateral performance and structural security. But above all, manager selection is critical—even at the highest-rated tranches.

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• Structured Credit: Engaging Risk Tactics

  Deal flow remained steady in Q3, keeping primary market spreads range-bound. Against a backdrop of low global interest rates, we have seen increasing investor interest in European CLOs.

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• Fixed Income: Upending the Conventional Approach

  Michael Freno, Head of Global Markets, shares his view on where value can still be found in fixed income, despite the uncertain current environment—and why investors may need to look beyond traditional indexes in high yield, investment grade and emerging markets debt.

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• Structured Credit: AAA Spreads Trend Lower as Tranches Price Tighter

  As spreads tightened and managers successfully syndicated AAA tranches, CLOs gained positive traction in the second quarter.

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• Structured Credit: Receding Headwinds Support CLO Performance

  CLOs rebounded in the first quarter as credit concerns receded. Lower interest rates may drive continued interest in the asset class moving forward.

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