3 min read | At Altrinsic Global Advisors, our emerging markets equity strategy is managed with a bottom-up, fundamentals-driven approach and an objective to identify high quality, underappreciated investment opportunities across the cap spectrum, truly reflecting the DNA of the EM asset class. Today, as we assess how our differentiated perspectives and exposures played out during the first year of our strategy, we find great alignment with our previous views (which we outlined in the September 2021 white paper report entitled Exploring the True DNA of Emerging Markets).
The Altrinsic Global Equity portfolio declined 0.1% during the first quarter, outperforming the MSCI World Index’s 5.2% decline, as measured in US dollars. Just as most nations began lifting COVID-related restrictions and returning to normal, tensions intensified amidst surging inflationary pressures, tightening policy measures in the US, lockdowns in China, and Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The Altrinsic International Equity portfolio declined 1.5% during the first quarter, outperforming the MSCI EAFE Index’s 5.9% decline, as measured in US dollars. Just as most nations began lifting COVID-related restrictions and returning to normal, tensions intensified amidst surging inflationary pressures, tightening policy measures in the US, lockdowns in China, and Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
2 min read | After a decade of largely running in parallel, credit and equity markets have begun to diverge in 2022. Check out our article [click to read] for some supporting data and thoughts about why equity investors should be paying close attention to credit market dynamics.
3 min read | Hypersonic weaponry is one of the most disruptive technologies in modern defense. We recognize that this is a controversial, sensitive, and potentially polarizing topic for multiple reasons, especially given the ongoing war in Ukraine. Yet, given the significant resources governments are committing to hypersonic research and innovation, we felt it would be valuable to provide a brief, fact-based review of hypersonic technology, its history, and the potential implications from both geopolitical and industry standpoints. Our sole intent is to provide an educational overview.
With a full-scale invasion of Ukraine now underway, we want to share some thoughts about this conflict’s impact on our investment portfolios and the developments we are monitoring.
2 min read | Large-cap growth stocks continued to outperform in 2021, leading the average global stock to underperform the MSCI World Index by 6.9%, the worst figure since 1999 and the fourth year in a row of underperformance. This narrow leadership has hindered active global equity managers, but as we enter 2022, the environment is looking increasingly supportive – particularly for bottom-up, fundamental investors. Check out our article[click to read] to find out why.
Beginning with the January insurrection at the US Capitol and ending with the rapidly spreading Omicron COVID-19 variant, 2021 provided much for markets to digest. Nonetheless, equity markets continued their rise with support from re-opening economies, strong corporate earnings growth, and stimulative monetary and fiscal policies. US equities and “growth” stocks continued to lead markets during the fourth quarter, but important transitions are underway that are supportive of a long overdue broadening away from this leadership in markets.
Beginning with the January insurrection at the US Capitol and ending with the rapidly spreading Omicron COVID-19 variant, 2021 provided much for markets to digest. Nonetheless, equities continued their rise with support from re-opening economies, strong corporate earnings growth, and stimulative monetary and fiscal policies. This strength continued during the fourth quarter led by US equities (+10.0%) and “growth” stocks, while non-US (+2.7%) and emerging markets (-1.3%) lagged.
Global policy normalization was the key factor driving markets during the fourth quarter. Responses to inflationary pressures have varied, but many emerging markets have been progressive in raising rates. While this weighed on the relative performance of emerging market equities versus global equity markets, it may prove to be prescient. In addition, the more proactive interest rate policies have not gone unnoticed in the currency markets, as the MSCI EM Currency Index remained near its all-time highs.
