corporate bonds

The manager of the world's largest bond fund has highlighted four structural headwinds that pose a risk to growth in developed economies such as the US.

7IM's Alex Scott has begun switching out of corporate debt in favour of Spanish and Italian bonds on a large proportion of the group's funds, ahead of any rise in government bond yields.

Ignis Asset Management's Chris Bowie is set to move short duration on the top-performing Corporate Bond fund, ahead of a "painful readjustment" in yield movements.

SMART MONEY

John Bellows, an investment strategy analyst at Legg Mason's fixed income subsidiary Western Asset Management, explains why fiscal policy is holding back corporate confidence in the US, and discusses the impact of the fiscal cliff on bond markets.

Old Mutual Asset Managers' head of fixed income Stewart Cowley has predicted a sterling crisis could unfold if the coalition government relaxes its austerity drive.

John Peta has joined Threadneedle to head its emerging market debt team alongside Henry Stipp, and the group has made three other hires on its fixed income team.

TOP PERFORMERS

Kames Capital's Euan McNeil and Stephen Snowden have identified three key catalysts that would cause the managers to move risk off in their £419m Investment Grade Bond fund before the end of the year.

Schroders has widened the scope of three of its leading bond funds to allow the managers to use derivatives more widely within their portfolios.