As a member of the UN PRI’s Credit Rating Advisory Committee, research analyst Will Vaughan joined the organization’s head of fixed income as well as Moody’s Investors Service for their first podcast in a series on ESG factors, credit risk and ratings.

Around the Curve

PRI Podcast: ESG in Credit Risk and Ratings

We are dedicating our podcasts as a forum to highlight our ongoing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives within each team’s investment process. Patrick Kaser and Jim Clarke of the Fundamental Equity team discuss how ESG factors are integrated into their investment process and highlight some of their favorite research examples. Ultimately, Patrick and Jim underscore that ESG analysis should be an inherent part of evaluating price and information risk, particularly for equity investors who conduct bottom-up research.

ESG Factors Are Inherent to Our Fundamental Equity Team's Process

Late last year, we proposed the idea of the U.S. trading places with the global economy in 2019. We explain why global growth decoupled from the U.S. last year, and review the broad factors that will play an important role in our 2019 growth expectations: monetary policy, fiscal policy, and trade. Listen to members of our Global Fixed Income cover these topics in depth during our first podcast in the New Year.

What Will It Take to Trade Places in 2019?

Global growth has desynchronized this year, while political trends around the world have become synchronous. Brian Giuliano and Anujeet Sareen, members of our Global Fixed Income team, explain how fiscal and monetary conditions in China as well as the evolution of the U.S.-Sino bilateral relationship, could change the trajectory of global growth in 2019. Our Global Fixed Income team also examines how fiscal policy around the world may begin to reflect a shift in global political sentiment.

Synchronization versus Desynchronization

With the return of volatility in the second quarter, we cover some of the key players in the current macro environment: the U.S., emerging markets and China, and Europe. We kick off our discussion with U.S. economic fundamentals and whether that gives the Federal Reserve enough cover to tighten a fourth time in 2018 or if the central bank will instead heed signals from the U.S. Treasury yield curve. Most importantly, we cover the U.S. dollar extensively, including our dollar outlook and what role the currency plays in the Trump Administration’s agenda. Our deep dive into U.S. fundamentals then drives the rest of our conversation that covers developed market tightening, emerging markets, U.S.-China trade, to finally close with recent political developments in Europe.

Nothing Moves in a Straight Line

With the Mexican general election less than a month away, we recap the top three presidential candidates along with the issues that will be driving voters to the polls. Members of our Global Fixed Income team also address the positive policies and reform within the Mexican economy and also suggest what they’d like to see moving forward under a new presidential administration.

Will the Election Affect Progress in Mexico?

Global growth has continued to gain traction in 2018, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently reaffirming its solid near-term outlook. Yet, markets have been preoccupied with other exogenous factors. These issues could complicate or even slow down growth in ensuing years. Listen to our discussion which covers a range of these risk factors and uncertainties, from inflation to trade.

What Are Markets Focusing On?

When it comes to managing global equities, we believe macroeconomic research and bottom-up fundamental analysis complement each other. Join Jim Clarke and Brian Giuliano as they discuss which countries offer value using this distinctive hybrid process.

Macro Meets Micro

We’re kicking off the new year by discussing a couple of broad investment themes that could play out during the first half of 2018. Steve Smith joins Brian Giuliano to discuss a range of economic and political conditions in Europe and the U.S, and how these factors could affect monetary policymaking. Listen in to find out whether we think the European Central Bank (ECB) will move to start cutting its stimulus program earlier than previously suggested, and whether reflation is in the cards for the U.S. economy.

Are Central Banks Behind the Curve?

In our second audio commentary installment, we discuss whether “something is stirring in the Japanese” economy. Listen to Anujeet Sareen and Brian Giuliano, members of the Global Fixed Income team, cover the drivers behind Japan’s economic expansion, Abenomics, the yen, and the country’s relative political stability.

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Around the Curve

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