Insights

For the sixth episode of Transitions, we discussed how companies are positioning themselves and making progress in relation to the necessary adjustments for the climate transition, along with the financing that this entails, with Suzanne Bourgault, ESG Strategist and climate expert and Sanda Molotcov, Head of Credit & Sustainability Research.

For the fifth episode of Transitions, we explored the transformative power of artificial intelligence and its effects on the asset management industry with Emmanuel Bourdeix, Director of Quantitative Investments and Research, and Philippe Waechter, Director of Economic Research.

The Ultra Short Plus Credit strategy, an SRI investment opportunity in the very short maturity corporate bond market.‘For investors looking for regular and attractive yields, very short-term credit can offer the right solution: Short-term euro rates are at their highest in 15 years.’Emmanuel Schatz, Portfolio Manager for the SRI Credit Ultra Short Plus strategy

Like many institutionals, insurers are exposed to multiple risk components, but the main component is interest rate risk. Interest rate risk stems from liabilities and it is necessary to have exposure in order to hedge this same risk carried under balance sheet liabilities. Fixed income instruments are thus a significant portion of the balance sheet and make the main contribution towards earnings on liabilities. This is a key factor of financial output for the euro-denominated fund.

Diversification and bond portfolio management often go hand in hand. There are two reasons for this: firstly, because the multitude and variety of asset classes underlying the bond market means there is a wide gap between the asset considered to be the safest in the world (Treasury notes) and the debt of financially fragile companies (high-yield bonds). Secondly, because at the “lower” level, i.e. within the indices, these asset classes contain hundreds of different securities.