Biography
Main responsibilities
Since launching in 2016, the team behind AIQ have been driven by a common goal: to give our clients and other interested parties fresh insight into the biggest themes affecting financial markets and the global economy. We also offer insights on more specialised topics, such as portfolio construction and cashflow-driven investing.
Experience and qualifications
Too often, the content produced by the asset management industry is bland, jargon-heavy and self-serving. Recognising we don’t have all the answers, AIQ brings together the best independent experts and Aviva Investors’ investment professionals to offer a more rounded picture on the stories that matter. Open to fresh perspectives and committed to strong editorial principles, AIQ stands out. After all, it’s good to be different.
Our latest views
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Bond Voyage: A journey into fixed income
This month, we explore how US Treasuries are taking a breath, why 2025 could be the year of carry for high yield, what increasing dispersion means for emerging markets, and how surging M&A activity could affect investment-grade bonds.
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Spend and save: Three key trends shaping the consumer sector
Our new series shares insights from our sector hub discussions to delve into the trends shaping global equity markets. In the first instalment, Harsharan Mann, consumer sector hub lead, explains what investors should look out for in the sector.
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The case for ReturnPlus: A capital efficient enhanced liquidity strategy
The ReturnPlus strategy invests in a broad range of liquidity sub-asset classes, while consuming limited regulatory capital. Our ReturnPlus team explains why investors should consider an allocation to the strategy.
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Beyond bonds: Finding diversification in an era of higher rates volatility
Bond markets are jumpy once again following recent political developments. Rising deficits and renewed inflation risk mean bond market volatility, and with it the search for alternative sources of portfolio diversification, looks to be here to stay.
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Decarbonising transport: Five key challenges and how to overcome them
Creating sustainable transport solutions is vital to meet net-zero pledges, but progress has been patchy. To encourage mobilisation across value chains, we brought together a range of sector experts to identify key blockers and potential solutions.
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Building bridges to net zero: Mobilising value chains for decarbonisation
From aviation to heavy industry, achieving net zero requires a collective unlocking of entire ecosystems. This is what our sector roundtables aim to do, by bringing together stakeholders from across the value chain of high-impact sectors.
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From tactical to strategic: Investing in emerging-market hard currency debt in your fixed income portfolio
Investors should consider EMD hard currency for a long-term strategic allocation within fixed income portfolios to boost portfolio returns, rather than just a short-term tactical play.
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US election 2024: Some initial thoughts from our fund managers
Aviva Investors fund managers Edward Hutchings, Liam Spillane and Max Burns offer their initial thoughts on what the US election means for financial markets.
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Bond Voyage: A journey into fixed income
This month, our fixed-income investment teams discuss US elections, IMF meetings, US versus European high yield, managing declining rates for cash, and what the future might hold in store for gilts.
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Illiquidity premia in private debt: Q3 2024
In our latest private markets deep dive, our research team crunches the data to see how evolving macro conditions are reflected in private debt returns.
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When risks collide: The case for diversifying via liquid alternatives
A growing number of investors are turning to alternatives to boost portfolio diversification, with the events of 2022 still fresh in their mind. In this article we look at why increased uncertainty over the future path of the stock-bond correlation, means this trend may persist.
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A tale of two cities: Factoring liquidity into risk-based capital
Hong Kong’s new risk-based capital framework is reshaping the insurance landscape, pushing insurers to rethink their balance sheet strategies and liquidity management. In this article, Alastair Sewell discusses the evolving asset allocation trends and the opportunities insurers face to enhance capital efficiency and long-term growth.
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Striking a balance: Key themes from the first eight months of 2024 AGMs
Annual general meetings (AGMs) are an opportunity for responsible investors to share their priorities with companies and express their views on key elements of strategy and governance. Our Stewardship team reviews our 2024 AGM engagement and voting activity.
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Resisting the lure of beta: A differentiated approach to portfolio construction in investment grade
Global head of investment-grade credit James Vokins explains how a differentiated approach to portfolio construction can help credit investors avoid the pitfalls of being reliant on beta.
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Navigating nature: Opportunities for the investor of tomorrow
Our society, economies and financial systems are embedded in nature, not external to it. This paper sets out the actions we are taking to understand nature-related risks and opportunities to deliver outcomes that meet our clients’ needs, and to support nature-related global goals.
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Power play: Why political risk matters for emerging-market debt investors
In this article, we explore why measuring and continually monitoring geopolitical risks is essential for investors in EM debt.
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The Little Book of Data
Good data visualisation makes us see the world anew. The sixth edition of The Little Book of Data presents original and curated visuals, charts and graphics to offer a fresh perspective on topics shaping our world.