Attractive yields defy default outlook
Spreads on high-yield bonds widened to attractive levels even as the expected corporate default rate has remained subdued.
Category: Fixed income
Income investing in a deleveraging world
Bond markets in Europe and emerging markets face a host of challenges in the years ahead.
Investor uncertainty dominated bond markets in late 2011
Uncertainty remained high in the fourth quarter of 2011 as the large macroeconomic challenges that dominated headlines throughout the year continued to weigh on investor confidence. Treasury rates in the United States declined slightly amid solid demand, while discussions over reducing the size of the federal deficit continued to take center stage heading into the
Bond market volatility drove tactical moves
Market volatility and other factors influenced positioning of Putnam Diversified Income Trust.
Yield-seeking investors may consider short-duration bonds
Putnam Short Duration Income Fund’s Portfolio Manager Michael Salm explains the objective of the fund.
The case for high-yield bonds
We believe the sell-off in high-yield bonds actually represents an investment opportunity.
Finding value in asset-related securities
Despite a weak housing market, asset-related securities can offer attractive fundamental value.
Risk aversion and volatility set the tone in the third quarter, but created attractive valuations for active managers
The third quarter of 2011 was the worst for stocks and other so-called “risk assets” since the financial crisis unraveled markets in 2008. Following the supply chain disruptions caused by the disasters in Japan, already cautious investors were confronted by a series of negative headlines: the threat of political impasse surrounding attempts to raise the
Part 2: Hold the middle ground
Dogged by lingering memories of the 2008–2009 bear market, many investors remain cautious about increasing their exposure to equities — even though equities today offer compelling value relative to most fixed-income asset classes. At the same time, many bond investors are finding it necessary to assume greater credit risk to capture higher yields amid a