The journey from denial to crisis

More than 40 years since a senior NASA scientist told US Congress of concerns about human activities disrupting the climate, experts are warning of an impending climate catastrophe and the financial sector is wrestling with the implications.

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Recent thinking

Covid-19

Equities and COVID-19: Now is not the time to double-down on uncertainty

21 May 2020

As the effects of COVID-19 continue to rip through societies and economies, Trevor Green explains why adding uncertainty on top of uncertainty is never a good investment strategy. He outlines three critical, but simple, rules for navigating the current equity market.

Covid-19

COVID 19: The trade-off between staying safe and getting back to work

15 May 2020

An economy in lockdown has significant effects for investors in real assets. In this data illustration, our real assets research team consider the benefit of businesses returning to their usual locations against the risks of doing so.

Covid-19

Will COVID-19 prove a watershed for ESG?

14 May 2020

COVID-19 has thrown new light on the interdependencies in human and natural ecosystems, and the vulnerabilities of a closely networked world. Aviva Investors’ responsible investment specialists ask whether this will prove a turning point for environmental, social and governance issues.

Covid-19

COVID-19: Do past recessions offer lessons for real estate investors?

7 May 2020

Although history offers no magical answers, it can serve as a useful guide in times of extreme uncertainty. Vivienne Bolla and Souad Cherfouh dig into the archives to better understand the effects of recessions on real estate.

The AIQ Podcast

The AIQ Podcast: Climate emergency

6 May 2020

This latest episode of the AIQ Podcast goes back to basics on climate: we explore leading scientists’ understanding of how the world is changing, as well as the investment community’s response.

Covid-19

COVID-19: Will credit markets remain open for business?

1 May 2020

While concerns around credit market liquidity have been rising since the global financial crisis, the COVID-19 sell-off has highlighted how fragile liquidity can be during periods of real stress. Colin Purdie discusses the short- and long-term implications for investment grade and high yield credit globally.

Covid-19

COVID-19 and beyond: Three predictions for transport infrastructure

30 Apr 2020

Constant reminders that COVID-19 ‘does not discriminate’ seem in stark contrast to the social and economic consequences playing out in front of us. Some sectors are clearly being hit harder than others – perhaps none more so than transport. Laurence Monnier looks at the long-term implications for the industry and its supporting infrastructure.

Covid-19

COVID-19: The impact on global equities

28 Apr 2020

As the coronavirus pandemic wreaks havoc on global economies, Giles Parkinson assesses the impact across equity markets and the longer-term implications for investors.

Covid-19

COVID-19: What will unprecedented policy response mean for economies and markets?

27 Apr 2020

While global policymakers around the world have acted with unprecedented speed and force to the COVID-19 pandemic, their actions are unlikely to prevent the world falling into the deepest recession since World War II.

Covid-19

Size matters: Will COVID-19 lead to a concentration of corporate power?

22 Apr 2020

The fallout from the coronavirus pandemic could see large firms cement their dominance over weaker rivals. We examine the implications for investors.

Covid-19

The impact of COVID-19 on global high yield

20 Apr 2020

As an increasing number of companies battle the economic consequences of COVID-19, their ability to service bond payments is coming under intense scrutiny. In this Q&A, Sunita Kara considers whether current high-yield valuations adequately compensate investors for default risk and looks at the broader implications of the pandemic.

Real Assets

'Mastering the real estate cycle'

17 Apr 2020

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.

Real Assets

'Mastering the real estate cycle'

17 Apr 2020

Covid-19

COVID-19 to test the resilience of long income

16 Apr 2020

Real estate long income strategies are known for their defensive qualities. Tim Perry explores how the impact of COVID-19 on the asset class will vary across businesses and sectors.

Covid-19

Re-enter the dragon: What China’s recovery from COVID-19 means for emerging markets

7 Apr 2020

As China gradually emerges from lockdown, emerging market debt and equity investors are trying to gauge the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on its economy – and the knock-on effects for other emerging markets.

Covid-19

COVID-19: This time is different?

3 Apr 2020

While the COVID-19 pandemic may be unlike anything financial markets have experienced before, the past still offers valuable lessons for investors trying to make sense of the crisis, explains Euan Munro.

The AIQ Podcast: Link - The power of connected thinking

5 Dec 2019

This latest episode of the AIQ Podcast explores the role of connected thinking in technology, business and the environment.

A question of trust: What’s behind blockchain technology

15 Nov 2019

A lot has been said about how blockchain may spark a technological revolution across every corner of the economy – not only in finance, but also areas such as medicine, marketing and supply chain management. What is less clear is how it could pose a hefty social challenge as well.

Supply chain wars

14 Nov 2019

With the US and China locking horns, we take a deeper look at the tangled and complex web of multinational relationships in the global economic ecosystem.

The AIQ Podcast: Future of retirement

12 Nov 2019

The idea that in one’s sixties it might be time to step out of work and retire into a life of leisure is relatively recent. But with more people living longer, expectations of retirement are being reshaped.

5G: Anatomy of an equity investment idea

11 Nov 2019

The evolution of wireless technology has fuelled a host of new mobile applications and helped propel companies such as Netflix. 5G, its next iteration, promises speeds up to 20 times faster than the current 4G. But to think only in terms of speed severely underestimates 5G’s potential to fundamentally transform the business landscape – though not without tremendous risk.

In search of a free lunch

5 Nov 2019

Correlations between groups of assets and within individual asset classes have changed in unexpected ways thanks to a decade of easy monetary policy. Our portfolio managers tell us what impact this has had on the way they manage money.

The Technology Trap: An interview with Carl Benedikt Frey

4 Nov 2019

AIQ speaks to Oxford economist Carl Benedikt Frey about his pioneering research into labour markets and automation.

Rage against the machine

1 Nov 2019

A new wave of tech-driven automation promises improved productivity and economic growth. But as humans are replaced by robots, a political backlash is building.

Connections and communities

28 Oct 2019

Today, a handful of urban centres are pulling away from their rivals – creating more innovation, more growth and more jobs. Those changes have deep implications; understanding them and what they mean for local communities takes joined-up thinking.

The moral philosopher’s curse

25 Oct 2019

Marte Borhaug explores the ethical dilemmas and unintended consequences that can result from trying to do the right thing.

Analogies and models: Two approaches to thinking connectedly

24 Oct 2019

In an effort to understand how best to approach idea generation and collaboration, two critical components of successful investing, AIQ speaks to leading academics in the fields of analogical and model thinking.

Finding Range: An interview with David Epstein

23 Oct 2019

AIQ speaks to author David Epstein about his new book, Range, which explores how generalists succeed in a specialised world.

Link: Embracing the power of connected thinking

22 Oct 2019

In an increasingly complex world, understanding the connections between people and ideas is crucial. AIQ looks at how organisations can put connected thinking into practice.

Private wants, public needs

4 Sep 2019

With society facing many urgent and complex challenges, deciding who is best-placed to deliver solutions has become an emotive and often political subject. We assess whether there is a better way to utilise the skills and resources of the public, private and third sectors for the greater good.

Us vs them: Ian Bremmer on politics, trade and technology

8 Jul 2019

We speak to the political scientist about the long-term themes affecting emerging markets, from the trade war to technological automation to climate change.

ESG: A keystone for stronger emerging markets

8 Jul 2019

Economic development is at a crossroads for emerging markets, and the road ahead will need to be paved with environmental, social and governance considerations.

View all AIQ Investment Thinking

AIQ Client Matters

COVID-19: Will credit markets remain open for business?

1 May 2020

RPI may be flawed, but changes shouldn’t cost pensioners and investors

16 Mar 2020

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.

Five charts that will make you think differently about retirement

23 Aug 2019

Retiring at 60 is a relatively new concept, and possibly a short-lived one in our history. As populations age – and age better – people are looking at a host of ways to stay in work and sustain their retirement income. We present five charts that sum up the changing landscape.

Self-sufficiency for pension schemes: Keep on running?

28 May 2019

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

The future of insurance

17 May 2019

The insurance industry has evolved rapidly since the financial crisis. The next decade is shaping up to be every bit as transformative as firms grapple with a host of factors, most notably the unfolding regulatory framework, digital disruption and climate change.

The future of retirement

28 Feb 2019

Conference calls: a snapshot of investors’ views on the big issues

23 Oct 2018

Attendees at Aviva Investors’ annual institutional investor conference gave their take on some of the key themes impacting pensions schemes, from ESG to asset allocation shifts.

Balancing liquidity and flexibility: a DB de-risking dilemma

13 Sep 2018

As transfers out of UK Defined Benefit (DB) pension schemes reach record levels, John Dewey assesses the implications for pension schemes with alternative income allocations.

View all AIQ Client Matters