The Barings Investment Institute conducts proprietary research to help our teams make the most of the firm’s unique expertise in public and private markets around the world, while exploring the forces that shape long-term investment and capital decisions.

White Paper - 20 min read

Cluster Cities: A Chinese Experiment in the Future of Urbanisation

China’s success in growing city clusters of previously unimaginable size is dependent on three key factors: continued rural-to-urban migration, planning that spans disparate administrative areas, and massive infrastructure investment.

Still Generally Positive in the U.S. But Your Mileage May Vary

The three things you need to know this week: Fed's Beige Book is out, the ECB ponders moving its inflation goalposts and S&P 500 earnings start trickling in

A Man, A Plan, A Canal – A Trade War

Trade flows, like water, ultimately find their path.

How Europe Took a Knife to a Gunfight

The continent has made remarkable progress... but its economic interests remain vulnerable in a world that once again favors a sharp elbow over a memorandum of understanding.

An Earnings Recession Now Built Into Consensus

The three things you need to know this week: Negative EPS growth for 2Q19 is now consensus, the CBO's bull and bear case for GDP given varying productivity assumptions and bank stress tests.

Monthly Macro Dashboard - 14 min read

June Macro Dashboard

Global growth continues to slow, but is still positive. Current macro fundamentals are sufficient and suggest a rate cut would be delayed. However, survey data and market messaging signal that rate cuts are more likely and sooner than hard economic data would indicate.

Bearish Positioning is Met By Dovish Central Banks

The three things you need to know this week: Extreme bearishness amid increased pessimism, an impatient ECB and a boldly dovish pivot from the Federal Reserve.

Showdown in Osaka and the Fate of the World

Osaka will be a showdown less between Trump and Xi than between the forces of globalization … rising nationalism that may steer us toward a sharper confrontation.

Investing for the next “Cold War” & Why It Won’t Be Like the Last One

It seems that the world’s largest economic relationship is headed for dramatic rupture, but for the foreseeable future there will be peril, opportunity and everything in between.

Weekly Update: Oil Instability Amid Rising Mid-East Tensions

June 14, 2019: The three things you need to know this week: Suspected attacks in the Gulf of Oman, the Contest for U.K. leadership is underway and Protests in Hong Kong

Leading Thoughts - 4 min read

The Coming Melt Up, Or What You Need To Believe For It To Come True

If these propositions hold out, then there is likely upside in risk assets globally. If more than a few are wrong, then you will be see the unraveling before your very eyes.

Weekly Update June 7, 2019

The three things you need to know this week: The rates outlook amid recent Fedspeak, sliding global growth according to the World Bank and still tight labor markets in the U.S.

Leading Thoughts - 4 min read

Italy, Europe ... & the United Federation of Planets

It’s easy to ridicule the lumbering political institutions of the European Union, but unwise to bet against them.

Monthly Macro Dashboard - 14 min read

May Macro Dashboard

Global growth activity is slowing, but remains healthy. Global central banks appear to be aligned in either a dovish or neutral mode. Recent risk-off market activity has pushed the USD higher, putting downward pressure on commodity pries. Trade war is still top of mind.

Weekly Update May 24, 2019

The three things you need to know this week: Estimates of Global Growth Lowered, U.S. Budget Deal Sit-Rep, a Possible Populist Wave at the EU Parliamentary Elections.

Financing the Internet of Things—Live from Barings 360

In this episode of Streaming Income recorded live on stage at the Barings 360 Private Markets Conference, Dr. Christopher Smart discusses his latest white paper.

Podcast - 30 min listen

Chekhov’s Gun & the Permanent Threat of Tariffs

The increasing prominence and permanence of trade threats is creating an awkward and complicated world for investors forced to navigate this new reality. What does this latest round mean for us?