CIO Insights 4Q23
The Next Yield Play
Chief Investment Office - Hong Kong28 Sep 2023
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Dear valued clients,

Our high conviction call to engage with risk assets at the start of the year has paid off. The 60/40 portfolio delivered higher returns than cash deposits in spite of worries surrounding recession as well as fear of rate hikes from heightened inflation.

For the last quarter of 2023, we advocate investors put their excess cash to work in portfolios, employing our Barbell strategy with an emphasis on high quality companies across credit and stock markets.

With rates back to 2007 pre-Global Financial Crisis levels, the near 6% annual coupon income from holding Investment Grade (IG) bonds is preferred over dividend-yielding equities and cash deposits as the next yield play.

In addition, if there are exogenous events that lead to market dislocations, IG bonds would cushion the overall portfolio against any sharp drawdown in equities. This echoes our Liquid+ strategy which prioritises a mix of higher-quality corporate bonds and low-risk government bonds to secure steady yields amid volatile times.

On the growth end of the Barbell strategy, stay with quality plays that possess moat characteristics and sustainable earnings growth. Accordingly, we remain overweight US equities where I.D.E.A. (Innovators, Disruptors, Enablers and Adapters) companies are well represented.

In this publication, we’ve included a thematic analysis on commodities, its outlook, and the role it plays within a portfolio construct.

Do enjoy the read.

 

Hou Wey Fook, CFA

Chief Investment Officer


Download the PDF to read the full 4Q23 CIO Insights report.

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Note: All views expressed are current as at the stated date of publication

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