Discussing the topics that matter

A game of two halves – investment performance through the conflict

March was a challenging month for emerging market debt, with conflict in the Middle East leading to mostly negative returns, yet April has been more positive, with spreads now tighter than at the start of the year. We examine some of the frontier markets currently in focus, including Gabon, Cameroon, Republic of Congo, Senegal, Mozambique, Pakistan and Venezuela.

2026: Blended Finance – where performance meets purpose

Blended finance bridges public-private capital for sustainable, risk-adjusted investments in emerging markets, fostering impact and resilient portfolio returns.

When calm no longer means safe: navigating a new volatility regime

Equity market volatility is shifting into a new regime where quiet markets can snap violently without warning. With these sudden, fleeting spikes turning volatility into a roller coaster, investors may need nimble, actively managed protection rather than static, set-and-forget hedges.

Asia Now: From Emerging to Established

Two scenarios for modelling the energy shock on Asian fixed income

High energy prices create challenges for Asia. We examine two oil price scenarios and examine how fixed income investors can best position themselves.

Ceasefire opens Strait of Hormuz: market implications

A two-week US–Iran ceasefire is set to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, easing supply concerns and pushing Brent crude prices lower. However, uncertainty remains.

The US dollar, oil and gold: changing dynamics?

The Middle East crisis has disrupted the market dynamics of the US dollar, oil and gold, underscoring the need for tactical flexibility and for investors to build resilient portfolios that are not necessarily reliant only on historic correlations.