Higher-risk portfolios heading global bond peer group

Eight of top ten invest in European high yield or emerging markets debt, which have enjoyed a farourable backdrop in recent times

European high-yield and emerging market bond funds feature at the top of the Global Bond sector over three years but industry specialists feel the peer group is too diverse to analyse on a general basis. As classified by the IMA, the group should include funds with at least 80% of their assets in fixed income stocks, but the nature of fixed income holdings is the cause of disagreement. Funds sitting at the top of the sector over three years are almost all investing in higher-yielding or junk bonds, which have had a favourable backdrop over the past three years. Those that have performed ...