BGRN - Multi-Asset Income Opportunities With An Inverted Yield Curve
2023-08-06 04:30:00 ET
Summary
- Short-term investment-grade corporate bonds offer compelling income potential and lower interest-rate risk than longer-term bonds and safe-haven assets.
- The short-duration investment-grade universe provides exposure to high-quality companies with solid corporate fundamentals.
- Short-duration investment-grade credit could cushion a diversified strategy against potential market instability in the event of a downturn or rising interest rates.
Yield, Duration and Credit Quality Are Key for Multi-Asset Strategies
Source: Barclays Live, Bloomberg, J.P. Morgan and AllianceBernstein
| Historical analysis does not guarantee future results. EM corporate assets duration is measured by interest-rate duration to worst; others are based on option-adjusted duration. EM represented by the JPM index and others by Bloomberg indices; USD unhedged. Credit quality is based on the lowest rating among rating agencies. As of June 30, 2023 |
In any environment, multi-asset investors should prudently balance risks across equity, corporate credit and government bonds. But near-term tactical shifts can help take advantage of ever-evolving market conditions in the pursuit of long-term returns.
With this in mind, we think today’s inverted yield curve has created a positive environment for short-term bonds—investment-grade corporate bonds, in particular. They offer compelling income potential along with relatively lower interest-rate risk, or duration, than longer-term bonds and safe-haven assets such as global treasuries. Short-duration investment-grade corporates, as measured by the Bloomberg Global Aggregate Corporate 1–3 Year Index, had a duration of 1.8 years and a yield to worst of 5.4% at midyear, yielding more than intermediate-term investment-grade bonds and global treasuries (Display).
Quality Is King as the Economic Outlook Firms Up
In addition to income potential, the short-duration investment-grade universe provides exposure to high-quality companies—with an average credit rating of BBB+. Since the pandemic, many credit issuers are backed by solid corporate fundamentals, including healthy balance sheets, stable debt levels and relatively limited default risk, in our view. This is especially important if the economy takes a downturn, which would tend to stress lower-quality bonds first.
The outlook for multi-asset income investors is much improved in 2023, and we think short-duration investment-grade credit plays a key part. We don’t expect a deep recession in the US, or interest rates to rise sharply from here. But if either scenario strikes, the high quality and relatively low interest-rate risk of short-duration investment-grade credit could cushion a diversified strategy against potential market instability—at least long enough for investors to adjust.
| The views expressed herein do not constitute research, investment advice or trade recommendations and do not necessarily represent the views of all AB portfolio-management teams. Views are subject to change over time. |
Editor's Note: The summary bullets for this article were chosen by Seeking Alpha editors.
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Multi-Asset Income Opportunities With An Inverted Yield Curve