Q4 2018 Review: NWP Blended Emerging Markets Debt Composite
Once in Golconda by acclaimed financial reporter John Brooks chronicles the market events leading up to the 1929 crash and its aftermath. Golconda was a term used in the late 1880s to describe great wealth. The use of the word is a reference to Golkonda, a medieval fort in Southern India, home to some of the world’s most productive diamond mines. In fact, it’s where the Hope Diamond was discovered. Indian folklore refers to the city as a mythical place where everyone who passes through acquires wealth.
Long Duration EM Credit for LDI Portfolios
A confluence of factors has made 2018 a critical year for corporations seeking to de-risk sponsored defined benefit pension plans. Rising equity markets and higher interest rates have improved funded status across the universe of U.S. corporate plans, while sharply higher variable Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation premiums have made the costs of carrying unfunded pension liabilities far less economical.
Krampus Comes to Town
While holiday songs suggest that there’s a naughty and nice list imploring us to be good for goodness sake, we mostly take for granted a Christmas visit from Santa Claus. Stock traders too are hopeful this time of year for the gift of early December performance to help boost their annual returns.
Maturity
The holiday season is upon us and for many this means spending time with family and friends. At parties and gathering this time of year we naturally find ourselves reminiscing about life’s various milestones, both joyous and sad. My favorite stories are those that touch on the follies of youth.
Gimme Shelter
With the markets responding to the threat of declining liquidity, the value restoration process is underway. The Federal Reserve has been raising interest rates since December of 2015 in a gradual, measured manner which is finally starting to bite.
Sharpen Your Axe
August days in financial markets tend to be quiet. Volumes contract as many investors take to the sidelines. This time offers a chance to spend time with families and friends, read a book, enjoy a beer; in short, it’s a good time to sharpen our axes for the fall.
Trump’s Trade War: A March of Folly?
Just a month ago markets appeared enamored with President Trump’s agenda for deregulation, tax reform and fiscal stimulus. The prospect of protectionism was viewed as mere rhetoric from a president in perpetual campaign mode.
Taper Tantrum 2.0
Like greenskeepers carefully tending to the needs of golf course greens with the arrival of spring, central banks face an equally delicate task of restoring national economies showing slower signs of life without killing off healthy ones, and seek stability over wild undulations.
Things are Better Than They Seem
In his new book, psychologist Steven Pinker details how the human condition has steadily improved over the past millennia. His data suggests that we enjoy longer, healthier and happier lives than our ancestors; that we have made significant progress against disease and starvation; and we have experienced a steady decline in deaths resulting from wars, natural disasters and crime.
Russia Update: Rising Instability, Syria and Sanctions
The last 30 plus days have seen a dramatic unfolding of events involving Russia. The combination of rising political tensions, new U.S. sanctions and another chemical weapons attack in Syria have put investors on edge. The conundrum facing investors is whether this new Syria crisis will quickly fade or linger given other cumulative effects.
Q4 2018 Review: NWP Blended Emerging Markets Debt Composite
Jefferson V. DeAngelisJanuary 31, 2019
Once in Golconda by acclaimed financial reporter John Brooks chronicles the market events leading up to the 1929 crash and its aftermath. Golconda was a term used in the late 1880s to describe great wealth. The use of the word is a reference to Golkonda, a medieval fort in Southern India, home to some of the world’s most productive diamond mines. In fact, it’s where the Hope Diamond was discovered. Indian folklore refers to the city as a mythical place where everyone who passes through acquires wealth.
Long Duration EM Credit for LDI Portfolios
William C. SlaughterA confluence of factors has made 2018 a critical year for corporations seeking to de-risk sponsored defined benefit pension plans. Rising equity markets and higher interest rates have improved funded status across the universe of U.S. corporate plans, while sharply higher variable Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation premiums have made the costs of carrying unfunded pension liabilities far less economical.
Krampus Comes to Town
Jefferson V. DeAngelisDecember 30, 2018
While holiday songs suggest that there’s a naughty and nice list imploring us to be good for goodness sake, we mostly take for granted a Christmas visit from Santa Claus. Stock traders too are hopeful this time of year for the gift of early December performance to help boost their annual returns.
Maturity
Jefferson V. DeAngelisNovember 30, 2018
The holiday season is upon us and for many this means spending time with family and friends. At parties and gathering this time of year we naturally find ourselves reminiscing about life’s various milestones, both joyous and sad. My favorite stories are those that touch on the follies of youth.
Gimme Shelter
Jefferson V. DeAngelisOctober 30, 2018
With the markets responding to the threat of declining liquidity, the value restoration process is underway. The Federal Reserve has been raising interest rates since December of 2015 in a gradual, measured manner which is finally starting to bite.
Sharpen Your Axe
Jefferson V. DeAngelisAugust 27, 2018
August days in financial markets tend to be quiet. Volumes contract as many investors take to the sidelines. This time offers a chance to spend time with families and friends, read a book, enjoy a beer; in short, it’s a good time to sharpen our axes for the fall.
Trump’s Trade War: A March of Folly?
Jefferson V. DeAngelisJune 28, 2018
Just a month ago markets appeared enamored with President Trump’s agenda for deregulation, tax reform and fiscal stimulus. The prospect of protectionism was viewed as mere rhetoric from a president in perpetual campaign mode.
Taper Tantrum 2.0
Jefferson V. DeAngelisMay 31, 2018
Like greenskeepers carefully tending to the needs of golf course greens with the arrival of spring, central banks face an equally delicate task of restoring national economies showing slower signs of life without killing off healthy ones, and seek stability over wild undulations.
Things are Better Than They Seem
Jefferson V. DeAngelisApril 30, 2018
In his new book, psychologist Steven Pinker details how the human condition has steadily improved over the past millennia. His data suggests that we enjoy longer, healthier and happier lives than our ancestors; that we have made significant progress against disease and starvation; and we have experienced a steady decline in deaths resulting from wars, natural disasters and crime.
Russia Update: Rising Instability, Syria and Sanctions
K.P. O'Reilly PhD, JDApril 16, 2018
The last 30 plus days have seen a dramatic unfolding of events involving Russia. The combination of rising political tensions, new U.S. sanctions and another chemical weapons attack in Syria have put investors on edge. The conundrum facing investors is whether this new Syria crisis will quickly fade or linger given other cumulative effects.