fund manager views

Following a strong showing in 2019, we expect Asia's fixed income markets to benefit from supportive investor sentiment as underlying economic growth in the region stabilises in 2020.

Japanese stocks appear to be vulnerable to a multitude of risks.

What lies ahead in 2020? Will the US economy tip into recession or accelerate? Will Brexit make or break the UK and its erstwhile partners in Europe?

Many investors are worried about the potential impact of the coronavirus. Only one case has been reported in Japan so far, though the authorities have quarantined a cruise ship with affected passengers on board.

In a world of slow yet steady, non-inflationary economic growth, interest rates are likely to remain at relatively low levels over the medium term.

It is shaping up to be an eventful year for investors with January alone presenting two unforeseen events – an escalation in US-Iran tensions and fears about the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.

Asian equity markets have underperformed developed markets since around the taper tantrum in 2013, driven partly by monetary policy and tax cuts in the US and partly by investors’ caution on Asia.

While valuations in emerging bond markets may look fairer after solid performance in 2019, we believe various factors remain supportive to the outlook.

Regardless of your home country, there are only a handful of words across the globe that can elicit a visceral response when spoken among polite company.

Sentiment towards the UK has improved following December's General Election result, but we believe equity income investors need to tread carefully in 2020.