A common theme in 2024 has been ongoing demand for corporate bonds. As to be expected, institutional investors have favoured higher quality investment grade bonds, but demand for sub-investment grade (high yield) and private credit has also been strong.

The saying that all good things must come to an end is a bittersweet reflection of reality. Sadly, too many of us fail to appreciate those good times, often focusing on what could or might go wrong. Perhaps this is understandable given the potential for higher interest rates to stifle economic growth and an increasingly complex geopolitical environment.

Given the uncertainty created by a looming US election, interest rate expectations constantly readjusting and geopolitical risks, having additional sources of diversification in portfolios can provide protection during periods when volatility spikes and markets are stressed.

This month Gopi Karunakaran caught up with Hans Lee from Livewire Markets for a deep dive into the world of Relative Value investing.

Over the past five years, bond markets have witnessed remarkable transformations, reshaping the investment landscape. From a pandemic to growing global macro-economic pressures, the role of fixed income in portfolio construction remains important.

Towards the start of each calendar year banks and investment managers like to publish their predictions for the year-ahead. In fixed income, these notes are usually heavily focused on macro forecasts around the level and direction of interest rates.

Within Fixed income, there are two well-known levers, duration and credit. In addition, there is also a lesser known third lever, Pure Relative Value investing. This third lever provides compelling diversification benefits when blended with duration and credit.

Charlotte O'Meara is joined by Gillian Jago, Senior Trader at Ardea Investment Management, to explore the dominance of Europe in sovereign green bond issuance amid a global slowdown.

Ardea Investment Management's Gopi Karunakaran explains how he spots opportunity and discusses the big conflict in central bank policy now.