Despite ongoing central-bank claims that the current spike in inflation is “transitory,” the recent surge in oil prices to 7-year highs, combined with ongoing supply shortages across many industries, suggests otherwise.

US Treasury curve flattens, as strong earnings tame inflation fears—for now Higher short-term rates make pound more attractive Stocks and bond rise together—and so does portfolio risk US Treasury curve flattens, as strong earnings tame inflation fears—for now Short US Treasury yields rose while longer-dated maturities fell in the week ending October 15, 2021, as […]

US large caps up, as risk nears historical median China’s risk drops below that of US small caps Oil-sensitive currencies rise against the US dollar US large caps up, as risk nears historical median US large capitalization stocks rose last week, as their risk continued to climb towards the historical median. Despite the recent decline […]

Investor sentiment across global developed markets, the US, Europe and Japan weakened further last week, falling into or near the bearish zone (although Japan did recover somewhat in the last two days). In contrast, investor sentiment across global emerging markets, Asia ex-Japan and China strengthened further, rising to the upper region of the neutral zone.

The STOXX Willis Towers Watson Climate Transition Indices (CTIs) are an innovative new family of indices designed to manage climate transition risk through a forward-looking, bottom-up analysis of the impact on company valuations from moving to a low-carbon economy. The indices help address risks and opportunities arising from climate transition in a transparent, systematic way and result in portfolios consistent with the Paris Agreement goals.

Manuela Sperandeo, BlackRock’s EMEA Head of Sustainable Indexing, discusses her firm’s investment mandate tracking the iSTOXX APG World Responsible Low-Carbon SDI Index, and explains how using indices can enhance transparency, efficiency and predictability in the construction process of a climate-aware and sustainable portfolio.

The mood of investors in Q3 2021 was decidedly undecided—and increasingly skeptical. Questions about the strength of the economic recovery, persistent inflationary pressures, the world’s ability to overcome the pandemic, and the timing of any tapering efforts by major central banks kept sentiment on the negative side of the neutral zone.

Surging oil prices lift both inflation expectations and bond yields; Dovish ECB keeps the short end of the Bund curve anchored, as long yields rise; Risk appetites increase, but portfolio risk declines.