Mark Young

We select some of our key pieces of content in a year of unending drama.

Pension schemes seeking alternatives to bonds may find amortising leases a compelling option, writes Luke Layfield.

In this short, visual article we present five charts that show why Manchester is such a rich, vibrant and economically prosperous city. Our view is that the ingredients of connectivity, culture, talent, scale and scientific heritage make the city well-equipped to thrive in the coming years and decades.

Boris Johnson has called for an ‘infrastructure revolution’ to help lift the UK economy out of its coronavirus-induced malaise. Private capital could and should play a large role alongside the public purse in delivering on that ambition, as Darryl Murphy sets out in a blueprint for the industry.

One of the immediate consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic has been a marked reduction in investors’ risk appetite. But will their appetite for the illiquidity premium in private markets also disappear? Laurence Monnier explores.

The cyclicality of real estate creates opportunities for well-informed investors. However, determining where a market is in the cycle can be difficult, so we have developed a tool that can help investors overcome this challenge.

With the start of the consultation for proposed changes to the measurement of inflation in the UK, we look at the likely impact to asset classes, the assets most affected, and the key issues investors should be aware of.

Jonathan Bayfield and Vivienne Bolla discuss the outlook for UK and European real estate.

As climate change rises up the political agenda throughout the West and beyond, shareholders have an important role to play in limiting global fossil fuel consumption by pressuring oil companies to amend their strategies, argues Sora Utzinger.

The role of a city is vastly different to fifty years ago. Chris Urwin, Director of Research – Real Assets, and Vivienne Bolla, Research Analyst – Real Assets explain why talent, clusters and scale are key factors in determining which cities – and therefore European office markets – will thrive in the years ahead.

A Fairtrade-style kitemark for responsible investment is in the pipeline. Properly implemented, the initiative should improve industry standards on ESG, writes Steve Waygood.

An obscure and heterodox branch of economic theory is quickly gaining support from prominent politicians in the US and beyond, which could have big implications for policymaking, argues David Nowakowski.

Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro may threaten to roll back important environmental policies protecting the Amazon, but companies – and investors – don’t have to follow suit.

Physical assets, particularly infrastructure and real estate, have a critical role to play in facilitating the transition towards a more sustainable economy and a greener world. As ultimate asset owners, investors are deeply engaged in the issues, and incorporating environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations is a fundamental part of an asset manager’s duty to their clients.

China’s property market is a microcosm of China’s debt problem, with mega developers potentially becoming ‘too big to fail’. While returns have been strong and selective opportunities can still be found, investor caution is deepening as the authorities tackle systemic weakness.

Boris Mikhailov and Matthew Graham look at the benefits and risks for pension schemes targeting self-sufficiency.