Investment Insights
Featured Investment Insights
Fixed Income Markets
Fallen Angels Could Bring Opportunities
The recent wave of corporate bond downgrades has dropped many companies' debt into the high yield sector. But could some "fallen angels" rise again?
Emerging Markets: Five Positive Trends
With the pandemic dominating the short-term outlook, the longer-term advantages of Emerging Markets companies become more important in the pursuit of return.
Commercial Real Estate
Major Shifts in Sectors Underway
The economic fallout from COVID-19 appears to be accelerating existing trends in commercial real estate, with industrial strengthening while retail faces challenges.
The Listed Infrastructure Opportunity
For inflation-linked absolute returns, listed infrastructure may provide several attractive characteristics.
Markets: UK
Britain, the Bank, and Brexit
With the Bank of England likely to keep rates very low and increase asset purchases, UK gilt yields and corporate bonds appear well supported; less so, the British pound.
Investment Insights
Weekly Monitor
Munis: Mid-Year Review
It was the most volatile first half-year in the history of the muni market, yet the Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Index still returned 2.08% for the period following a strong second quarter.
Infrastructure Earnings and COVID-19 Uncertainty
The market has potentially mispriced COVID-19's impact on both earnings and the market risk premium attached to infrastructure assets.
Inflation: Is 2% the Right Target?
Main Street and Wall Street have divergent opinions about the Fed's longstanding 2% inflation target.
Muni Weekly Monitor
Muni Payrolls Decline, Highlighting Austerity
A deep dive into what jobs data associated with COVID-19 says about austerity at the state and local government levels.
Municipal Market Monitor
The Fed Extends Its Reach
The Fed's move to extend its bond-buying to smaller municipalities and revenue-backed liens helped ease liquidity concerns in the muni market.
The New Normal
Retailers Go All-In Online
Inroads made by e-commerce in retail sectors like groceries and food delivery during the COVID-19 lockdown are likely permanent.
Municipal Market Update: May
Western Asset examines recent trends in the muni bond market and provides its outlook about conditions ahead.
Europe
ECB: Renewed Focus on Inflation
New policies announced by ECB President Lagarde surprised markets on the dovish side, delivering more support than expected..
Global Emerging Markets
Through the ESG Lens
Emerging markets have made great strides when it comes to ESG over the years, and there is now a constellation of companies which can go head to head with their developed-market peers.
Corporate bonds
The Future of the Office Sector
COVID-19’s sudden impact on the market for office space could spark unanticipated changes longer-term.
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