AVIVA

Sunil Krishnan, Head of Multi-asset Funds at Aviva Investors

RISK – WHERE ARE TODAY’S 'SAFE HAVENS'?

In normal market conditions, fund

managers look to construct portfolios able to navigate the range of outcomes that might reasonably be expected. There are typically three options to manage risk:

1. Increase allocations to government bonds;

2. Reduce investments in growth-sensitive assets, such as equities or high-yield credit;

3. Look for assets in demand when portfolios shrink (including currencies like the US dollar or Japanese yen).

Government bonds

Government bonds tend to increase in value when economic weakness causes central banks to drive down interest rates on cash and form an important building block in many portfolios. We came into 2020 with some concerns about them being very popular, and therefore highly valued. Initially, this did not stop them performing their usual risk-off role as equities lost ground in February.

However, by the second week of March, all bonds began to behave unusually. Government bonds are normally one of the most liquid markets, but it transpired that many bondholders had borrowed to buy them. As uncertainty increased, they were forced to sell both bonds and equities which created an opportunity to buy unwanted Treasuries. Nevertheless, market moves in March illustrate the need for a multi-faceted approach rather than a single source of protection.

Growth assets

It can be tempting to rely on large sales of equities when trouble arises, as a strategy for protecting wealth. However, this is hard to achieve. First, by the time the headlines turn gloomy, a sale is often too late. Second, timing a re-entry to growth assets can be a huge challenge. We prefer to take a more strategic approach. In our uncorrelated allocation, we look for assets that can deliver strong returns but preserve capital in difficult times.

Currency behaviour

The US dollar and Japanese yen are traditional safe havens, perhaps because they are often borrowed by companies and investors during good times. Our own analysis leads us to believe that strategically allowing a degree of unhedged exposure to these currencies may improve overall risk adjusted returns.

Running in to 2020, the US dollar had been very strong,' in large part driven by the US economy’s domestic strength which insulates it somewhat from global trade and manufacturing woes. In contrast, the Japanese yen had been

weak. During the March sell-off, markets largely conformed to the strategic pattern. The dollar once again strengthened markedly, rising five per cent in the first three weeks of March (source: Bloomberg, as at 25 March 2020) as investors bought it as a safe-haven asset. Yen appreciation, and weakness in euros and Australian dollars, also provided a degree of protection.

Market moves in March illustrate the need for a multifaceted approach.

How should investors now view diversification in multi-asset portfolios?

Recent events have illustrated that having a multi-faceted approach to managing portfolio risk can allow a portfolio manager to navigate volatility, spot opportunities, and strike the right balance between responding to markets and taking a long-term view. n

¹ Anil Panchal, 'USD/CAD bounces off monthly lows amid broad US dollar strength,' FX Street, 20 February 2020. https://www. fxstreet.com/news/usd-cad-bouncesoff-monthly-lows-amid-broad-us-dollarstrength-202002200401

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Except where stated as otherwise, the source of all information is Aviva Investors Global Services Limited (AIGSL). Unless stated otherwise any views and opinions are those of Aviva Investors. They should not be viewed as indicating any guarantee of return from an investment managed by Aviva Investors nor as advice of any naturePast performance is not a guide to the future. The value of an investment and any income from it may go down as well as up and the investor may not get back the original amount invested. This material is not a recommendation to sell or purchase any investment.

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