Robeco Asset Management Podcast

Consensus views in the market have changed from a likelihood of a recession to a most likely soft landing. But economic laws have always applied and this time should be no different.

Countries all over the world have embraced the SDGs. Our new Country SDG Framework shows exactly which of those countries are making most progress. This new framework helps fixed income investors to finance those governments that are really making a difference. Laurens Swinkels and Jan Anton van Zanten discuss the details in our latest podcast episode.  

Early this year, investors were notably enthusiastic about emerging market equities. And, as the months have gone by, funds have flowed towards this asset class. While returns have been fair, investors are still waiting for the big pay-off from the emerging market bet. How patient ought investors to be, and how rewarding will that pay-off be in the end? We discuss this with portfolio managers Wim-Hein Pals and Jaap van der Hart.  

It’s been just over six months since generative AI was made truly accessible to the world at large. It’s sparked the collective imagination about the implications of AI technology for how we live, work – and even how we should assess potential investment prospects. What’s real, and what framework should one be applying to discern what the opportunities are? Mike Chen and Daniel Ernst share their insights in our latest podcast episode.

In their latest Credit Quarterly Outlook, Robeco’s Credit team explains that rates and recession fears are the main drivers of this cycle.At times like these it’s critical to know your assets, as risks as well as opportunities will be inevitable. Erik Keller, Client Portfolio Manager for Credit at Robeco, outlines the team’s views.

The idea that the typical investment portfolio can be constructed with a 60% allocation to equities and a 40% exposure to bonds has paid off for number of decades, with very few exceptions. Last year happened to be one of those exceptions: the diversification effect broke down spectacularly, and the so-called 60-40 portfolio generated losses. Is it time to ditch the 60-40 concept altogether, or does it simply need a revamp?

Podcast 'In tune with the markets' – Episode 6: 'Jai Ho!'   A new episode of Robeco’s biweekly podcast that makes sense of the latest market moves – with a musical twist. Tune in to hear the latest from Portfolio Manager Arnout van Rijn.   This podcast features material by fair use guidelines. All rights reserved to the copyright owners.

The expectation had been that banks would enjoy the fruits of finally exiting zero interest rate policies. While that has been the case, the tremendous pace and extent to which rates have risen over the past year have highlighted some weaknesses in the system. In this context, what are investors’ assessment of the banking sector? In our latest podcast, portfolio manager Patrick Lemmens and senior credit analyst Jan Willem Knoll give their views on the sector.

This is a trailer. Full new episode out now: https://www.robeco.com/en-int/insights/2023/04/podcast-in-tune-with-the-markets-mahna-mahna   Robeco’s biweekly podcast that makes sense of the latest market moves – with a musical twist. Tune in to hear the latest from Portfolio Manager Arnout van Rijn as he covers the latest in global banking, central bank action and what to watch in the week ahead.

Markets are still nervously eyeing the risk of a recession. Turmoil in the banking sector has added to the jitters. What will central banks do, and how should credit investors be positioned? In their latest Credit Quarterly Outlook, Robeco’s Credit team says they’re ready to buy on the dips, but with some very specific preferences. Erik Keller, Client Portfolio Manager for Credit at Robeco, outlines the team’s views.

Asia-Pacific is touted as a region vibrant with opportunity, thanks to its demographic advantage, catch-up growth and technological prowess. But investors remain wary of some of the obstacles, such as uncertainty about China’s role as an economic powerhouse and, more broadly, the difficulty of investing in a region made up of highly distinct markets. Thu Ha Chow, Head of Fixed Income Asia, and Joshua Crabb, Head of Asia-Pacific Equities, discuss their approach to the region.

Podcast 'In tune with the markets' – episode 3: 'I will survive' A new episode of Robeco’s biweekly podcast that makes sense of the latest market moves – with a musical twist. Tune in to hear the latest from Portfolio Manager Arnout van Rijn as he covers the latest in global banking, central bank action and what to watch in the week ahead.

Podcast 'In tune with the markets' – episode 2: 'The Power' Arnout van Rijn: Central banks are still a major theme. The question is: how far are they willing to go, and what will it look like when markets snap. Meanwhile, equity markets remain relentlessly bullish, with cyclical stocks leading the charge. And China growth might be slowing, but it’s still got the power – as does President Xi Jinping.   Follow (for free) via the links here: https://podnews.net/podcast/iad09  

Karin van Baardwijk has been Robeco’s CEO for just over a year now – a period that coincided with what turned out to be a perfect storm for asset managers. A war, a drastic shift in the direction of central bank policy, and negative returns across most asset classes kept investors focused and humble. We talked to Karin about what these events mean for the asset management industry, and how to position for the future. Listen to the conversation.

There were few places for investors to hide in 2022, as weakness spread across all asset classes. Factor investing strategies, by contrast, provided some refuge: their resilience in down-trending markets confirmed their comeback. So, it’s a good time now to take stock of what’s going on in the world of quant and factor investing. Tune in and listen to Weili Zhou, head of Quant Equity Research, and David Blitz, Chief Quant Researcher. 

Robeco credit quarterly outlook with Erik Keller

There’s agreement that measures to halt and reverse biodiversity loss are now critical. But is this enough to move key role-players into action? That includes the investment community, which is already dealing with macro-economic worries, regulatory demands and many competing priorities in the realm of ESG issues. This is especially topical in light of COP 15, which recently took place in Montreal. Peter van der Werf, Senior Manager for Engagement at Robeco, and special guest Simon Zadek, Executive Director of NatureFinance, give their views in our latest podcast.

2022 has been a year of records for bond investors. In the first six months, the fixed income asset class clocked its worst performance since 1788. And, unusually, bonds have weakened at the same time that equity markets got hammered. In this episode we take a look at a segment of the fixed income market: high yield corporate bonds. Here too, new records have been set.Never before have there been two consecutive years of negative total returns in high yield. Investors are now wrestling with the question of whether this is the low point for high yield. Our guests are two veterans in the field, portfolio managers Sander Bus and Roeland Moraal.

Value has proven over the past two years that it’s not dead, after all. The rotation away from growth stocks towards value that started in November 2020 continues. But it’s been in fits and starts. And, let’s face it, the market mood now is tense, fickle and unsure. Will it be smooth sailing for value strategies from here onwards? Jay Feeney is CEO and CIO of Boston Partners, the US-based investment house focused on fundamentally driven value investing.

It’s been a gruelling year so far for financial markets, including for equities. And sustainable indices have had it even harder, having underperformed the overall equity market. Critics of sustainable and ESG investing have been emboldened by these recent market developments, arguing that doing good seems to equate to losing money. We ask portfolio managers Chris Berkouwer and Michiel Plakman if the field of sustainable investing is now facing a reckoning?