Asset allocators sell down credit holdings ahead of 'bond catastrophe'

Fears ahead of end of quantitative easing

Beth Brearley
clock • 6 min read

Asset allocators have warned pitfalls as a result of quantitative tightening (QT) are lurking in bond markets, which have the potential to cause a "bond catastrophe" forcing investors to reduce their credit holdings.

Cautioning investors, Man GLG's Craig Veysey, lead fund manager of the group's Strategic Bond fund, said QT could see "large swathes" of BBB-rated bonds tumble into the high yield index, while chief strategist at 7IM Terence Moll, said the bond market "masks a lot of danger". Furthermore, Veysey explained QT will amplifiy volatility, worsen fundamentals and trigger credit downgrades. As such, BBB-rated corporate bonds could lose their investment grade status.  He pointed out the percentage of triple B-rated bonds has "exploded" since 2008 as companies have geared up their balance shee...

To continue reading this article...

Join Investment Week for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, analysis and opinion from the investment industry, including the Sustainable Hub covering fund news from the ESG space
  • Get ahead of regulatory and technological changes affecting fund management
  • Important and breaking news stories selected by the editors delivered straight to your inbox each day
  • Weekly members-only newsletter with exclusive opinion pieces from leading industry experts
  • Be the first to hear about our extensive events schedule and awards programmes

Join now

 

Already an Investment Week
member?

Login

More on Bonds

Partner Insight: Spring statement leaves (head)room for improvement

Partner Insight: Spring statement leaves (head)room for improvement

Shamil Gohil, Fidelity International
clock 28 March 2025 • 4 min read
Treasury pushes ahead with digital gilt pilot using BoE's Sandbox

Treasury pushes ahead with digital gilt pilot using BoE's Sandbox

Digital version of government bonds

Eve Maddock-Jones
clock 19 March 2025 • 1 min read
Partner Insight: What do tariffs mean for bond investors?

Partner Insight: What do tariffs mean for bond investors?

A Trump presidency means many things. For bondholders, the key risk is the increased rates volatility through President Trump's tariffs and policy announcements via social media platforms. Against this backdrop, Fidelity fixed income managers Kris Atkinson and Shamil Gohil, highlight why they continue to find the best risk-adjusted opportunities in the front end of the Sterling credit curve and why they remain overweight this segment of the market in our all-maturity portfolios.

Kris Atkinson and Shamil Gohil, Fixed Income Portfolio Managers, Fidelity International
clock 11 March 2025 • 5 min read
Trustpilot