Special Reports » OTHER REPORTS » FIXED INCOME

— Richard Lockwood, Morgan Stanley Investment Management

The move back towards bonds could be viewed as a more cautious approach by fund managers, but the new allocations are not fixed income as we know it, writes Elizabeth Cripps.

Global diversification in equities is common but its advantages have yet to be fully realised in most fixed income portfolios, writes Loomis, Sayles and Company L.P.

As pension funds shift their focus, the fixed interest environment is becoming more complex to accommodate the growing demand for more exotic vehicles, writes Ceri Jones.

Craig Hurt, director, fixed income and liability driven investments at Axa Investment Managers, speaks to FT Mandate on the benefits of fixed income products including security, liquidity, transparency and duration.

— Joe McDevitt, Pimco Europe

Pressure is mounting for pension funds to extract more value from bonds to offset both falling returns and the widening gap between assets and liabilities. Paula Garrido reports.

Disappointing investment returns in the equity markets over recent years have resulted in investors looking at bonds in a different way. Fixed income portfolios are now expected to work harder to generate alpha for the portfolios as well as adding diversification and risk control.

The need to squeeze more return from bonds has developed in parallel with the growing need to bridge the gap between assets and liabilities.

— Sagel

Robeco’s Hattrick strategy offers positive returns in fixed income markets irrespective of interest rates movement. Erik van Leeuwen and Petra Sagel explain.

Many investors are asking themselves whether an investment in fixed income securities is a good idea. Interest rates are low and the return on corporate bonds, the spread, has narrowed considerably. Nevertheless every portfolio should have bonds.