Speakers and topics

How investors can earn equity like returns from a short duration bond portfolio

AB Short Duration High Yield Portfolio

While investing in riskier high yield in front of an economic slowdown would seem counter-intuitive, Vivek doesn't think that all high yield strategies should be shunned. We believe that any economic slowdown will be benign and that investors should have a high yield allocation as part of their portfolios. Our short duration high yield strategy lets investors express this view in a lower volatility manner. Vivek will review the current trends in the high yield market along with the AB Short Duration bond strategy.

Head, fixed income business development EMEA
AllianceBernstein

Arnaud relocated from Hong Kong, where he was head of fixed income business development for Apac, to Europe in 2022. Prior to joining AB in 2015, he was regional CIO for Axa insurance across Asia ex-Japan from 2010 to 2015. He started his career in 1999 at Axa Investment Managers Paris.

Missed opportunities within the HY investing landscape: is it ever the right time?

RBC BlueBay Global High Yield Bond Fund and RBC BlueBay Global High Yield ESG Bond Fund

Justin will discuss the market opportunity within the HY space. We hear of a lot of investors trying to time the markets and enter the asset class at the ‘right time’, but is it ever the right time? In his view, the extra income on offer from HY bonds will be harder to ignore for most allocators once we come to the end of this rate hiking cycle. The all-in-yields are enticing by historical standards and offer the potential for strong risk-adjusted returns, if accompanied with careful name selection. Justin will highlight the multiple pockets of value across BlueBay's asset classes and why it stands ready to adjust its exposure if required in light of incoming data.  

Head of European high yield, leveraged finance
RBC BlueBay Asset Management

Justin is head of European high yield within BlueBay's global leveraged finance group. He joined BlueBay Asset Management (which is now part of RBC Global Asset Management) in 2009 as head of high yield trading, before moving into portfolio management in early 2012. He started his career at UBS in 2002 and was last director of high yield and distressed trading in Europe.

The outlook for high yield bonds and the benefit of an ESG integrated investment process

JSS Sustainable Bond – Global High Yield

With central banks raising rates, what are the prospects for high yield bonds and to what degree should investors view current yield levels as attractive? Jayadev will explain how he accesses a diverse range of global high yield bonds, JSS trademarked sustainability matrix and how, by combining financial performance with a sustainable investing approach, the firm has been helping investors marry investment goals and supporting a more sustainable future since launch in 2018.

Senior portfolio manager
J. Safra Sarasin Sustainable Asset Management

Jayadev has more than 18 years of high yield and leveraged finance investment experience in both buy-side and sell-side roles. Prior to joining J. Safra Sarasin, he led the high yield credit research team at UBS. Before that, he worked for various desks at HSBC, ICAP and Lloyds, among others.

Marginal gains not stamp collecting

Premier Miton Strategic Monthly Income Bond/Premier Miton Corporate Bond Monthly Income

The benefits of marginal gains have been used in sport for years. Premier Miton's philosophy is to use marginal gains in the fixed income markets to drive similarly successful outcomes and consistent outperformance. This presentation will describe how portfolio optimisation helps navigate changing market environments.

Fund manager, head of fixed income
Premier Miton Investors

Lloyd joined Premier Miton in August 2020. He was previously at Merian Global Investors (2012-2020), where he was manager of the Merian Corporate Bond Fund and co-manager of the Merian Financials Contingent Capital Fund. He has also worked at Cutwater AM and at Deutsche Bank.

Emerging market debt: is now the right time?

During this session, EM Debt expert Lyubka Dushanova will provide an introduction to emerging market debt and the rationale for having an allocation to the asset class. She will go on to discuss the current outlook for local and hard currency EM debt and will make the case for investing in the asset class through indexed strategies.

Portfolio strategist
State Street Global Advisors

Lyubka is the ambassador for SSGA's EM Debt capabilities and liaises closely with portfolio management and sales. She joined SSGA in 2017. Prior to that, she worked as a client portfolio manager in fixed income at Aviva Investors. She started her career as a hedge fund analyst at Societe Generale in Paris.

Market opportunities for active global credit investors

Vontobel Fund-Global Corporate Bond

Active selection in a global universe can provide both alpha and diversification. If inflation and central bank policy has peaked, what does this mean for those who have, rightly, focused on short duration until now? Marc will check the health of investment grade corporates and explain the benefits of active credit selection in driving predictable and diversified returns.

Portfolio Manager, fixed income boutique
Vontobel Asset Management

Marc joined Vontobel in February 2021 as portfolio manager in the corporate bonds team within the fixed income boutique. He is responsible for the global corporate bond strategy. Prior to joining, he was portfolio manager for global credit at Lombard Odier IM. He was in charge of the credit and ESG analysis of issuers in various non-financial sectors, such as automobiles, capital goods, and China real estate.