Viewpoints

Conversations - 8 min read

High Yield: Identifying Value Amid Shifting Sentiment

Despite the sharp turns in high yield markets over the past two quarters, companies ticked along without flinching—posting strong earnings over the course. David Mihalick, Barings’ Head of U.S. High Yield Investments, explains why.

High Yield Bonds & Loans: Where to Next?

High yield markets roared back in the first quarter. Can market fundamentals and technicals support continued strength? And how should investors factor in risks ranging from possible recession, to ratings downgrades, to liquidity concerns? Barings’ David Mihalick weighs in.

Podcast - 27 min listen

Conversations - 6 min read

Is There Style Drift in Middle Market Lending?

Barings’ Ian Fowler weighs in on the supply/demand dynamics in the direct lending space and explains why looking at the middle market as one cohesive universe can be misleading.

Podcast - 25 min listen

Equities

German Equities Present Opportunities to Combat Headwinds

In this Q&A, Rob Smith, Manager of the Barings German Growth strategy, shares his thoughts on how German equities are positioned to combat various headwinds, and which sectors the team expects future growth to come from.

Equities

Enterprise Software: Valuation Matters

While industry dynamics remain healthy and growth prospects exist, current enterprise software valuations look stretched.

Short View - 3 min read

Tempering Enthusiasm for Mexico’s Corporate Bond Market

Omotunde Lawal, Head of EM Corporate Debt, reports back from a recent trip to Mexico, where the Barings team conducted on-the-ground research through meetings with a wide variety of corporate issuers, economists and ratings agencies.

Short View - 5 min read

Multi Asset

Forecasting The Next Decade: An Analysis Of Asset Returns

Barings Multi Asset Group combines the underlying factors that will drive markets over the long term with today’s valuations to produce total return forecasts for major asset classes over the next ten years.

Insights - 21 min read

Equities

Why Russia May be Set for an Explosion in E-commerce Growth

Historically a laggard in the e-commerce world, Russia is showing signs of life. But challenges remain.

Short View - 3 min read

Conversations - 9 min read

Intangible Assets: The Royal Opportunity Set

A subset of Intangibles, pharmaceutical royalties present a particularly compelling investment opportunity. Barings’ Jon Rotolo and David Jin explain why.

EM Debt: Investing with Cautious Optimism

Sovereign debt outperformed in Q1 as geopolitical headlines continued to garner attention and commodities rallied. Risks remain for the asset class but some notable headwinds have now become tailwinds.

High Yield: A Swift Rebound

High yield bonds and loans posted a strong Q1 following the technically induced Q4 sell-off. With defaults still near historical lows, current spreads provide attractive risk-adjusted return potential.

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.

IG Credit: Can the Rally Last?

BBB-rated credits led the first quarter recovery despite early signs of deterioration among fundamentals. With spreads significantly tighter this year, short duration credits may pose an attractive investment option.

Intangible Assets: A Source of Uncorrelated Income?

In today’s information economy, intangible assets continue to grow in size and importance. Barings’ Jon Rotolo and David Jin discuss the role these assets are playing in diversified portfolios through a real-world example in the pharma royalty space.

Podcast - 27 min listen

Real Estate Debt: A Time for Balance

Dean Dulchinos, Head of Real Estate Debt Portfolio Management and Capital Markets, recently spoke with PERE about how he expects the U.S. real estate debt market to shape up in 2019—including the opportunities it presents, the shift in both investor types and risk-reward profiles sought, and how credit cycle placement is affecting the asset class.

Article - 6 min read

Private Equity: Emerging, Women & Diverse Managers

Amid increased competition and rich valuations, PE returns have continued to trend downward. In this interview, Barings’ Mina Nazemi discusses how allocations to emerging, women and diverse managers can potentially help combat this trend.

Podcast - 27 min listen