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Global Fixed Income Compass
Quarterly insight from our fixed income teams to help clients navigate the markets and opportunities ahead.
THEMES IN FOCUS
Themes in Focus
Key Takeaways
- The US yield curve has been a good indicator of recession when accompanied by other factors such as a weak consumer, a decline in inflation, falling jobs or weak employment. However, with few of these signs present, the curve appears idiosyncratic at this juncture.
- Negative-yielding debt has soared to roughly $15 trillion* worldwide. This is not merely a symptom of weak economic growth, but is also due to insufficient demand and excessive debt loads, as well as central banks falling short with their policy toolkit.
- Against this backdrop, investors may question whether bonds still have a place in their portfolios. While their income component is clearly diminished, we believe bonds still play a valid role as a source of diversification, particularly in risk-off markets.
By Jim Cielinski, Global Head of Fixed Income
Video Transcript
Is the US Yield Curve still a reliable indicator that recession is coming?
I think the US Yield Curve has been overhyped as a recession indicator. It is a great indicator when accompanied by other things, like a weak consumer or let’s say falling inflation, falling jobs or weak employment. We see none of those and so I think you have to look at the curve and say it is a little bit idiosyncratic in this particular phase.
On top of the weak inflation expectations, the weak growth expectations, we know what the toolkit for central banks is and it is often buying more bonds, lowering rates. And these things I think when you look at it in conjunction with those economic variables are really powerful in depressing the yield curve.
Will the ECB’s pursuit of negative rates be effective, or is it time for fiscal policy to pick up the stimulus baton?
The markets are telling us that fiscal policy must come to the rescue. The ECB will do what it has to do, it will pull out the same bag of tricks that it did in the last cycle and that is just because they can’t do anything else within their remit. Will it be effective? I doubt it. It wasn’t that effective the first time. And negative rates have some, I think, really bad side effects. The bank profitability issue, that credit creation function which originates in the banking system is broken and actually gets even more broken with negative rates. And ultimately, that is what you need to get the economy out of this weak spot.
How did we arrive at $15 trillion of negative-yielding debt worldwide?
It is astonishing that we are looking at so much debt that has a negative yield. This has been 30 years in the making, so it is not just a symptom of weak growth today. This is insufficient demand and excessive debt loads that when combined, you just don’t see the credit creation needed in today’s economy to send rates higher. And so with central banks falling short with their policy toolkit, I think it is the combination of all this, that has led to negative rates. These are structural in nature, so it is difficult to see these suddenly reversing except on a short-term cyclical basis. So it seems quite odd, but as long as those conditions stay with us, negative rates will stay with us as well.
What are the implications for market liquidity as highly accommodative monetary policy returns?
Easy money is often associated with more liquidity, but I think it is important to realise that is in the economy. With markets, what that often means is that central banks distort markets. They, through quantitative easing, buy a lot of the supply. And in fact, that reduces market liquidity. Now it is important to remember that does not mean markets always go down, illiquid doesn’t mean weak markets. Illiquid can also mean rising prices just as that buying distorts markets and pushes prices higher. But I think market liquidity remains very challenging in the coming year.
You are going to have these volatile spikes in the market, both up and down. Be ready for those, but don’t overreact. I think it is quite easy to have fear overwhelm your decision making in these periods. but most of these you should really wade through and ask, “Is it a true shift in fundamentals or is it a market liquidity event?” If it is the latter, stay calm.
Given the landscape, do bonds still have a place in investors’ portfolios?
When I look at the valuation of bonds today, it is hard to argue that zero gives a lot of upside potential. That said, bond yields can move more negative and with that capital appreciation can still exist. But I think people do need to feel like their return expectations should be lower. So that is what I would caution people to look at and identify what they are in bonds for.
Historically, it has been about income and it has been about portfolio diversification. With low yields, I think it is fair to say that income component is quite low. You can still see it in some places though, emerging market debt, corporate debt, high yield. And with low default levels, that may not be a bad place to hang out to get that income. But the return potential is more limited. That said, I have heard for years that bonds didn’t have any diversification potential left and when you do get risk-off environments, bonds rally. So I still think they serve that purpose.
And I think with that, you start looking at the appropriate outcomes of different fixed income products and you will find when you do that most fixed income products still have a very valid role in a broader portfolio.
The opinions and views expressed are as of the date published and are subject to change without notice. They are for information purposes only and should not be used or construed as an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any security, investment strategy or market sector. No forecasts can be guaranteed. Opinions and examples are meant as an illustration of broader themes and are not an indication of trading intent. It is not intended to indicate or imply that any illustration/example mentioned is now or was ever held in any portfolio. Janus Henderson Group plc through its subsidiaries may manage investment products with a financial interest in securities mentioned herein and any comments should not be construed as a reflection on the past or future profitability. There is no guarantee that the information supplied is accurate, complete, or timely, nor are there any warranties with regards to the results obtained from its use. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal and fluctuation of value.
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C-0919 26491 12-30-20
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INSIGHTS FROM OUR
GLOBAL TEAMS
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Our senior global bond portfolio managers respond to common investor questions on the global economic outlook.
Strategic Fixed Income
John Pattullo, Co-Head of Strategic Fixed Income, explores the phenomenon of negative-yielding bonds: how they came about, why anyone might buy them and whether they are here to stay.
Corporate Credit
The energy sector as a whole has been the weakest-performing global high-yield sector. Our corporate credit team delves into the challenges facing high-yield energy issuers today.
Fixed Income Leadership
Despite the ultra-low interest rate environment, Jim Cielinski, Global Head of Fixed Income, discusses bonds' role as a diversifier in a broad portfolio.
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Janus Henderson Fixed Income provides active asset management solutions to help our clients meet their investment objectives. Over the past four decades, our global investment teams have developed a wide range of product solutions to address our clients' varied and evolving needs. From core and multi-sector investing to more focused solutions, we offer innovative and differentiated techniques expressly designed to support our clients as they navigate each unique economic cycle. The capabilities of these teams are available through various products.
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*Source: Bloomberg, Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate Negative Yielding Debt, Market Value in trillions of USD, at 30 September 2019