Recent thinking
Equities
Investing in the gut: Fixing the bacterial bugs in our microbiome
21 Sep 2020
COVID-19 has intensified interest in the human microbiome, as researchers contemplate whether bacteria living in the gut might affect susceptibility to infection. Drawing on our experience in public markets and Ahren Innovation Capital’s knowledge of private markets, we look at the companies making strides in live biotherapeutics, using ‘bugs as drugs’, and key challenges that need to be overcome.
Read more
Fixed income
Emerging market debt: A path less volatile
17 Sep 2020
After one of the most volatile periods on record, hard currency emerging market debt is once again drawing investor interest, thanks to attractive yields and its diversification potential. But while markets recovered quickly from the volatility, investors should remain cautious for the challenges ahead.
Read more
Equities
Why limit yourself? The benefits of style-agnostic investing
16 Sep 2020
Investors wanting to consistently exploit market inefficiencies should leave style biases behind, argues Mikhail Zverev.
Read more
Real Assets
Fibre broadband: The need for speed
9 Sep 2020
Lockdown measures imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted the importance of digital connectivity. Tim Perry looks at the investment opportunities and challenges associated with European economies transitioning from copper to faster fibre broadband networks.
Read more
Equities
Out with the old: Why income investors must be on the right side of change
2 Sep 2020
It has been a difficult year for income investing, as many companies have announced cuts or suspensions to dividends. But there are opportunities for investors willing to do some digging to find resilient businesses, says Richard Saldanha.
Read more
Equities
The clockmaker and the longitude problem: A lesson for investors in bottom-up problem solving
25 Aug 2020
Bottom-up thinking is not a typical hallmark of multi-asset investing. However, Francois de Bruin believes the granularity that comes from this approach offers useful diversification and risk benefits.
Read more
Real Assets
Swipe right: The Tinder effect on real estate
24 Aug 2020
It can be hard to perceive how society, and consequently our use of real estate, is changing. Sometimes, major structural trends are hiding in plain sight, says Chris Urwin.
Read more
Multi-asset & multi-strategy
COVID-19: Can a lasting recovery happen without a vaccine?
21 Aug 2020
With the notable exception of China, countries around the world have struggled to get their economies firing on all cylinders without COVID-19 infections flaring up again. Until a way to contain the virus is found, recoveries are likely to remain stop-start and fragile, argue Ian Pizer, Mark Robertson and Sunil Krishnan.
Read more
Real Assets
Five charts that show Manchester is a city of the future
20 Aug 2020
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.
Read more
Multi-asset & multi-strategy
COVID-19 and antimicrobial resistance: The next health crisis?
19 Aug 2020
As the world grapples with COVID-19, antibiotics used to treat serious secondary bacterial infections associated with the coronavirus are making their way into wastewater with potentially dire consequences. Abigail Herron questions whether investors appreciate the seriousness of what antimicrobial resistance could lead to.
Read more
Equities
The new rules of client engagement
18 Aug 2020
As the coronavirus pandemic reshapes our working lives, asset managers must find new ways to interact with their clients, says Apiramy Jeyarajah.
Read more
Multi-asset & multi-strategy
Multi-asset allocation views: What we can learn from earnings season
14 Aug 2020
Investors have faced several surprises during Q2 earnings season. Sunil Krishnan discusses what the current results round means for multi-asset investors over the coming months.
Read more
Equities
Electric avenue: EVs and the transformation of autos
13 Aug 2020
In the latest instalment of our editorial series, Link, experts from our infrastructure, credit research and equity teams discuss why efforts to ‘build back better’ as economies recover from COVID-19 could further accelerate investment in electric vehicles and associated infrastructure.
Read more
Equities
Chinese equities: A rally of substance?
12 Aug 2020
Chinese equities have risen sharply in recent weeks, mirroring trends in global markets. While some commentators have warned efforts by Beijing to juice share prices are inflating an unsustainable bubble, Alistair Way and Xiaoyu Liu argue valuations are far from excessive.
Read more
The AIQ Podcast
The AIQ Podcast: Risk and resilience in an age of uncertainty
11 Aug 2020
The latest episode of the AIQ podcast explores the nature of risk in an uncertain world. How can we stay resilient when the unexpected occurs?
Read more
Equities
As earnings season unfolds, equity investors must focus on the bigger picture
10 Aug 2020
Investors are poring over grim corporate earnings reports, but it is crucial to look beyond quarterly figures to assess long-term value, says Giles Parkinson.
Read more
AIQ Features
Roll of the dice: Risk and resilience in an age of uncertainty
21 Jul 2020
The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the difficulties of managing risk in an increasingly globalised and interconnected world. We explore how organisations can stay resilient through an era of radical change.
Read more
The evolution of ESG: More than just a risk mitigator
21 Jul 2020
Once dismissed as a virtuous endeavour that compromised investment returns, the ability to gain a more holistic view of risk by considering environmental, social and governance factors is increasingly appreciated by investors. We assess the evolution of ESG across asset classes, as well as its role as a risk mitigator and opportunity spotter.
Read more
The Technocrat: Lord Adair Turner
21 Jul 2020
With developed economies stuck in a high-debt and low interest rate trap, the former head of Britain’s financial watchdog believes central banks should break a long-held taboo and finance governments directly.
Read more
Economics and ethics: Why diversity matters
21 Jul 2020
In business, diversity can be the difference between success and failure. But while progress towards it has been frustratingly slow in many areas, the pressure is mounting on companies to act.
Read more
Pandemic risk: When will we learn our lesson?
21 Jul 2020
COVID-19 has reminded us that the sources of economic and financial crises can be wildly unpredictable. However, while spotting patient zero in advance was nigh on impossible, pandemic risk was well telegraphed. In the first part of our mini-series, The source of the next crisis, we consider whether an infectious disease could wrong-foot us again or whether governments will learn their lesson.
Read more
Cybersecurity in the fourth industrial revolution
21 Jul 2020
COVID-19 shocked investors into taking pandemic risks more seriously. In an increasingly connected world, where data is the new oil, could cyberattacks be the next big threat?
Read more
Inflation hawks: Crying wolf?
21 Jul 2020
Twelve years on from the financial crisis, inflation hawks are back. They were proved wrong then, but could this time be different? In part three of our mini-series on the source of the next crisis, we explore the extent to which inflation poses a risk to the global economy and financial stability.
Read more
Geopolitics: Could the coronavirus pandemic lead to a new Cold War?
21 Jul 2020
The US-China relationship has deteriorated in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. What does this geopolitical rivalry mean for the global economy and markets?
Read more
Nature and neglect: The era of ecological disasters
21 Jul 2020
As the frequency and ferocity of natural hazards increase, in part five of our mini-series on the source of the next crisis AIQ considers the economic and investment implications and what we can learn from past mistakes.
Read more
The Economist: John Kay
21 Jul 2020
AIQ speaks to economist and author John Kay about risk, uncertainty and the longer-term implications of the coronavirus pandemic.
Read more
The risks on the savings and retirement journey
21 Jul 2020
COVID-19 has caused significant volatility in financial markets, creating headaches for defined contribution pension schemes seeking to deliver robust outcomes. Overcoming this requires a full map of risks along the savings and retirement journey, argues Francois de Bruin.
Read more
Policy moves into the great unknown, but at what cost?
21 Jul 2020
Policymakers are dreaming up ever more radical experiments to try and pull economies out of what could be the deepest recession in living memory. But until the world can cure its addiction to debt, financial markets will remain on a knife edge.
Read more
Trial and error: The value of learning from mistakes
21 Jul 2020
A common characteristic of successful people and organisations is an ability to recognise and quickly learn from their mistakes. UK Equity Income Fund Manager Chris Murphy shares the lessons he has learned from an eventful career.
Read more
Will COVID-19 concentrate corporate power
21 Jul 2020
The fallout from the coronavirus pandemic could see large firms cement their dominance over weaker rivals. We examine the implications for investors.
Read more
Resilience in credit: All calm for now, but big tests lie in store
17 Jul 2020
For credit investors, resilience is about taking appropriate levels of risk, understanding market dynamics, and identifying companies best prepared for the future. All these qualities could be tested given the wide range of possible outcomes as the world begins to recover from COVID-19.
Read more
Real assets and the quest for resilient income
6 Jul 2020
COVID-19 has made life harder for already yield-starved investors, and each asset class faces its own challenges. We draw on the latest thinking from our Real Assets House View and research team to highlight where reliable income sources can still be found in real asset markets.
Read more
Equities
Investing in the gut: Fixing the bacterial bugs in our microbiome
21 Sep 2020
COVID-19 has intensified interest in the human microbiome, as researchers contemplate whether bacteria living in the gut might affect susceptibility to infection. Drawing on our experience in public markets and Ahren Innovation Capital’s knowledge of private markets, we look at the companies making strides in live biotherapeutics, using ‘bugs as drugs’, and key challenges that need to be overcome.
Read more
Why limit yourself? The benefits of style-agnostic investing
16 Sep 2020
Investors wanting to consistently exploit market inefficiencies should leave style biases behind, argues Mikhail Zverev.
Read more
Out with the old: Why income investors must be on the right side of change
2 Sep 2020
It has been a difficult year for income investing, as many companies have announced cuts or suspensions to dividends. But there are opportunities for investors willing to do some digging to find resilient businesses, says Richard Saldanha.
Read more
The clockmaker and the longitude problem: A lesson for investors in bottom-up problem solving
25 Aug 2020
Bottom-up thinking is not a typical hallmark of multi-asset investing. However, Francois de Bruin believes the granularity that comes from this approach offers useful diversification and risk benefits.
Read more
The new rules of client engagement
18 Aug 2020
As the coronavirus pandemic reshapes our working lives, asset managers must find new ways to interact with their clients, says Apiramy Jeyarajah.
Read more
Electric avenue: EVs and the transformation of autos
13 Aug 2020
In the latest instalment of our editorial series, Link, experts from our infrastructure, credit research and equity teams discuss why efforts to ‘build back better’ as economies recover from COVID-19 could further accelerate investment in electric vehicles and associated infrastructure.
Read more
Chinese equities: A rally of substance?
12 Aug 2020
Chinese equities have risen sharply in recent weeks, mirroring trends in global markets. While some commentators have warned efforts by Beijing to juice share prices are inflating an unsustainable bubble, Alistair Way and Xiaoyu Liu argue valuations are far from excessive.
Read more
As earnings season unfolds, equity investors must focus on the bigger picture
10 Aug 2020
Investors are poring over grim corporate earnings reports, but it is crucial to look beyond quarterly figures to assess long-term value, says Giles Parkinson.
Read more
Education, entrepreneurship and biological age: An interview with Andrew Scott
6 Aug 2020
In part two of our interview with Professor Andrew Scott from London Business School, we look at how policy will shift to take account of people living for longer and how service providers will respond.
Read more
Longevity, policy and technology: An interview with Andrew Scott
6 Aug 2020
Living longer brings enormous opportunities to reshape how we spend our time. But in the first of a two-part interview, Andrew Scott from London Business School explains how advances in longevity and technology have not been matched by innovation in social structures or our approach to financial planning.
Read more
Trial and error: The value of learning from mistakes
21 Jul 2020
A common characteristic of successful people and organisations is an ability to recognise and quickly learn from their mistakes. UK Equity Income Fund Manager Chris Murphy shares the lessons he has learned from an eventful career.
Read more
Will COVID-19 concentrate corporate power
21 Jul 2020
The fallout from the coronavirus pandemic could see large firms cement their dominance over weaker rivals. We examine the implications for investors.
Read more
Health first: Finding resilience in pharmaceuticals
2 Jul 2020
COVID-19 has led to a new appreciation of the importance of healthcare in ensuring all members of society thrive. So where should investors be looking to find resilience in an industry facing enormous change?
Read more
Why COVID-19 is unlikely to trigger a fresh financial crisis
1 Jul 2020
In the latest instalment of our editorial series, Link, Oliver Judd and Jaime Ramos Martin explain why banks are well-placed to withstand the economic fallout from COVID-19.
Read more
What do rising US-China tensions mean for global markets?
24 Jun 2020
In the latest instalment of our editorial series, Link, Aviva Investors experts discuss the prospects for financial markets and the world economy in the face of escalating hostilities between the US and China.
Read more
Defined Benefit pensions de-risking: A covenant and investment view
23 Jun 2020
In the midst of the COVID-19 shock, Felix Mantz from Lincoln Pensions and Joachim Sudre from Aviva Investors explore how defined benefit pension schemes should plan their journey towards an end game and adopt a more holistic approach to risk.
Read more
Fixed income
Emerging market debt: A path less volatile
17 Sep 2020
After one of the most volatile periods on record, hard currency emerging market debt is once again drawing investor interest, thanks to attractive yields and its diversification potential. But while markets recovered quickly from the volatility, investors should remain cautious for the challenges ahead.
Read more
The new rules of client engagement
18 Aug 2020
As the coronavirus pandemic reshapes our working lives, asset managers must find new ways to interact with their clients, says Apiramy Jeyarajah.
Read more
Electric avenue: EVs and the transformation of autos
13 Aug 2020
In the latest instalment of our editorial series, Link, experts from our infrastructure, credit research and equity teams discuss why efforts to ‘build back better’ as economies recover from COVID-19 could further accelerate investment in electric vehicles and associated infrastructure.
Read more
Education, entrepreneurship and biological age: An interview with Andrew Scott
6 Aug 2020
In part two of our interview with Professor Andrew Scott from London Business School, we look at how policy will shift to take account of people living for longer and how service providers will respond.
Read more
Longevity, policy and technology: An interview with Andrew Scott
6 Aug 2020
Living longer brings enormous opportunities to reshape how we spend our time. But in the first of a two-part interview, Andrew Scott from London Business School explains how advances in longevity and technology have not been matched by innovation in social structures or our approach to financial planning.
Read more
Reality bites: Retailing in a health crisis
5 Aug 2020
In the latest instalment of our editorial series, Link, experts from Aviva Investors’ credit, equities and real asset teams discuss the consequences of COVID-19 on the retail sector and their implications for investors.
Read more
Where can investors put cash to work when rates go negative?
30 Jul 2020
Just when investors thought they couldn’t sink any lower, the economic shock caused by COVID-19 has put further downward pressure on interest rates in developed markets. Caroline Hedges, head of global liquidity portfolio management at Aviva Investors, looks at the impact on money market funds.
Read more
Resilience in credit: All calm for now, but big tests lie in store
17 Jul 2020
For credit investors, resilience is about taking appropriate levels of risk, understanding market dynamics, and identifying companies best prepared for the future. All these qualities could be tested given the wide range of possible outcomes as the world begins to recover from COVID-19.
Read more
Health first: Finding resilience in pharmaceuticals
2 Jul 2020
COVID-19 has led to a new appreciation of the importance of healthcare in ensuring all members of society thrive. So where should investors be looking to find resilience in an industry facing enormous change?
Read more
What do rising US-China tensions mean for global markets?
24 Jun 2020
In the latest instalment of our editorial series, Link, Aviva Investors experts discuss the prospects for financial markets and the world economy in the face of escalating hostilities between the US and China.
Read more
Defined Benefit pensions de-risking: A covenant and investment view
23 Jun 2020
In the midst of the COVID-19 shock, Felix Mantz from Lincoln Pensions and Joachim Sudre from Aviva Investors explore how defined benefit pension schemes should plan their journey towards an end game and adopt a more holistic approach to risk.
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
COVID-19 and a brief history of emerging market debt drawdowns
2 Apr 2020
The scale and speed of COVID-19’s impact on global financial markets has caused emerging market debt returns to decline at a pace not seen since the global financial crisis. However, history suggests the recovery of the asset class may also turn out to be quick.
Read more
The impact of COVID-19 on private debt
30 Mar 2020
As COVID-19 sweeps across the world, a contraction in global growth is causing an adverse short-term reaction to the economy and financial markets. While the extent of contagion from public markets to private debt remains unclear, transactions with strong downside protection should remain more resilient through the crisis, explains Nikhil Chandra.
Read more
Multi-asset & multi-strategy
The clockmaker and the longitude problem: A lesson for investors in bottom-up problem solving
25 Aug 2020
Bottom-up thinking is not a typical hallmark of multi-asset investing. However, Francois de Bruin believes the granularity that comes from this approach offers useful diversification and risk benefits.
Read more
COVID-19: Can a lasting recovery happen without a vaccine?
21 Aug 2020
With the notable exception of China, countries around the world have struggled to get their economies firing on all cylinders without COVID-19 infections flaring up again. Until a way to contain the virus is found, recoveries are likely to remain stop-start and fragile, argue Ian Pizer, Mark Robertson and Sunil Krishnan.
Read more
COVID-19 and antimicrobial resistance: The next health crisis?
19 Aug 2020
As the world grapples with COVID-19, antibiotics used to treat serious secondary bacterial infections associated with the coronavirus are making their way into wastewater with potentially dire consequences. Abigail Herron questions whether investors appreciate the seriousness of what antimicrobial resistance could lead to.
Read more
Multi-asset allocation views: What we can learn from earnings season
14 Aug 2020
Investors have faced several surprises during Q2 earnings season. Sunil Krishnan discusses what the current results round means for multi-asset investors over the coming months.
Read more
Education, entrepreneurship and biological age: An interview with Andrew Scott
6 Aug 2020
In part two of our interview with Professor Andrew Scott from London Business School, we look at how policy will shift to take account of people living for longer and how service providers will respond.
Read more
Longevity, policy and technology: An interview with Andrew Scott
6 Aug 2020
Living longer brings enormous opportunities to reshape how we spend our time. But in the first of a two-part interview, Andrew Scott from London Business School explains how advances in longevity and technology have not been matched by innovation in social structures or our approach to financial planning.
Read more
Multi-strategy investing and the COVID crash: Resilience and redemption?
29 Jul 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought many things into focus, reminding investors of the shock of a market crash. With bond and equity prices already back at levels that seem to belie the harsh economic reality, Peter Fitzgerald and Mark Robertson believe it could be time to reconsider absolute return multi-strategy investing once more.
Read more
The risks on the savings and retirement journey
21 Jul 2020
COVID-19 has caused significant volatility in financial markets, creating headaches for defined contribution pension schemes seeking to deliver robust outcomes. Overcoming this requires a full map of risks along the savings and retirement journey, argues Francois de Bruin.
Read more
Multi-asset allocation views: Finding opportunities in the crisis
16 Jul 2020
Despite uncertainty around lockdown exits and economic recovery, the role of a fund manager is to explore hidden opportunities as well as protect capital. Sunil Krishnan discusses why investment-grade credit and European assets could fit the bill for multi-asset portfolios.
Read more
Multi-asset allocation views: How long will the COVID-19 damage last?
26 Jun 2020
Nearly three months after COVID-19 caused markets to crash and sent countries across the globe into lockdown, debates continue over what the post-COVID world will look like and the extent of the long-term damage. Sunil Krishnan remains cautious.
Read more
What do rising US-China tensions mean for global markets?
24 Jun 2020
In the latest instalment of our editorial series, Link, Aviva Investors experts discuss the prospects for financial markets and the world economy in the face of escalating hostilities between the US and China.
Read more
Defined Benefit pensions de-risking: A covenant and investment view
23 Jun 2020
In the midst of the COVID-19 shock, Felix Mantz from Lincoln Pensions and Joachim Sudre from Aviva Investors explore how defined benefit pension schemes should plan their journey towards an end game and adopt a more holistic approach to risk.
Read more
Cinderella science? Why portfolio construction holds the key to resilient investment outcomes
9 Jun 2020
It is one thing to have a good investment idea, but quite another to extract the maximum potential from that idea and combine it with others to create an optimal portfolio. This is where portfolio construction comes in.
Read more
Where to go in an income drought?
9 Jun 2020
Income investors face multiple challenges – dividend cuts, historically low yields, rising corporate defaults, and an uncertain property market. Francois de Bruin goes in search of sustainable income sources.
Read more
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.
Read more
COVID-19 and a brief history of emerging market debt drawdowns
2 Apr 2020
The scale and speed of COVID-19’s impact on global financial markets has caused emerging market debt returns to decline at a pace not seen since the global financial crisis. However, history suggests the recovery of the asset class may also turn out to be quick.
Read more
Real assets
Fibre broadband: The need for speed
9 Sep 2020
Lockdown measures imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted the importance of digital connectivity. Tim Perry looks at the investment opportunities and challenges associated with European economies transitioning from copper to faster fibre broadband networks.
Read more
Swipe right: The Tinder effect on real estate
24 Aug 2020
It can be hard to perceive how society, and consequently our use of real estate, is changing. Sometimes, major structural trends are hiding in plain sight, says Chris Urwin.
Read more
Five charts that show Manchester is a city of the future
20 Aug 2020
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.
Read more
The new rules of client engagement
18 Aug 2020
As the coronavirus pandemic reshapes our working lives, asset managers must find new ways to interact with their clients, says Apiramy Jeyarajah.
Read more
Electric avenue: EVs and the transformation of autos
13 Aug 2020
In the latest instalment of our editorial series, Link, experts from our infrastructure, credit research and equity teams discuss why efforts to ‘build back better’ as economies recover from COVID-19 could further accelerate investment in electric vehicles and associated infrastructure.
Read more
Education, entrepreneurship and biological age: An interview with Andrew Scott
6 Aug 2020
In part two of our interview with Professor Andrew Scott from London Business School, we look at how policy will shift to take account of people living for longer and how service providers will respond.
Read more
Longevity, policy and technology: An interview with Andrew Scott
6 Aug 2020
Living longer brings enormous opportunities to reshape how we spend our time. But in the first of a two-part interview, Andrew Scott from London Business School explains how advances in longevity and technology have not been matched by innovation in social structures or our approach to financial planning.
Read more
Reality bites: Retailing in a health crisis
5 Aug 2020
In the latest instalment of our editorial series, Link, experts from Aviva Investors’ credit, equities and real asset teams discuss the consequences of COVID-19 on the retail sector and their implications for investors.
Read more
How to build back better, greener and faster: A 10-point plan for UK infrastructure
14 Jul 2020
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.
Read more
Real Estate: The Last Dance for gut feel investing
7 Jul 2020
Commercial property investors could learn a lot from the data-led revolution that has taken place in basketball in recent years, as Chris Urwin explains.
Read more
Real assets and the quest for resilient income
6 Jul 2020
COVID-19 has made life harder for already yield-starved investors, and each asset class faces its own challenges. We draw on the latest thinking from our Real Assets House View and research team to highlight where reliable income sources can still be found in real asset markets.
Read more
Tomorrow’s world: COVID-19 and the long-term future of commercial real estate
29 Jun 2020
Chris Urwin and Jonathan Bayfield look beyond the near-term disruption to real estate to assess the longer-term prospects for the retail, office and logistics sectors.
Read more
What do rising US-China tensions mean for global markets?
24 Jun 2020
In the latest instalment of our editorial series, Link, Aviva Investors experts discuss the prospects for financial markets and the world economy in the face of escalating hostilities between the US and China.
Read more
Defined Benefit pensions de-risking: A covenant and investment view
23 Jun 2020
In the midst of the COVID-19 shock, Felix Mantz from Lincoln Pensions and Joachim Sudre from Aviva Investors explore how defined benefit pension schemes should plan their journey towards an end game and adopt a more holistic approach to risk.
Read more
Logistics: ‘Last mile’ or further to run?
19 Jun 2020
Following a decade of bumper demand and returns, many experts are questioning whether logistics real estate assets have reached their prime or whether they still have further to run. Vivienne Bolla argues the latter.
Read more
COVID-19 and data infrastructure: Will demand translate into profit?
18 Jun 2020
During the initial outbreak of COVID-19, we published a report on the underlying long-term trends supporting data infrastructure. Since then, much about the world as we knew it has changed. Laurence Monnier assesses how many of the trends we identified remain intact and whether the surge in demand for data services and infrastructure will translate into investment opportunities.
Read more
Responsible investment
The evolution of ESG: More than just a risk mitigator
21 Jul 2020
Once dismissed as a virtuous endeavour that compromised investment returns, the ability to gain a more holistic view of risk by considering environmental, social and governance factors is increasingly appreciated by investors. We assess the evolution of ESG across asset classes, as well as its role as a risk mitigator and opportunity spotter.
Read more
Health first: Finding resilience in pharmaceuticals
2 Jul 2020
COVID-19 has led to a new appreciation of the importance of healthcare in ensuring all members of society thrive. So where should investors be looking to find resilience in an industry facing enormous change?
Read more
COVID-19, comp and doing the right thing: Why corporate values have never been more critical
16 Jun 2020
With annual general meetings now taking place virtually, shareholders, employees and suppliers have had to adjust to lockdowns. While some of the immediate impacts will be phased out with the opening of the economy, stewardship priorities and corporate values may change forever.
Read more
Evidence and ambition: The new rules of engagement on climate change
15 Jun 2020
Mirza Baig explains why far-off commitments on climate change by energy companies and their lenders are no longer enough, and why COVID-19 has catalysed rather than derailed investor engagement on the issue.
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
The AIQ Podcast: The psychology of climate change
4 Mar 2020
This latest episode of the AIQ Podcast explores the psychology of climate change and how to engage individuals in the quest for solutions.
Read more
Climate change: The journey from denial to crisis
28 Feb 2020
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.
Read more
Why asset managers cannot be passive on climate change
28 Feb 2020
As active investors step up their engagement efforts on the climate crisis, discussions need to be at the CEO rather than board level, argues David Cumming.
Read more
Apathy, anger, action: The psychology of climate change
28 Feb 2020
Psychological barriers can prevent people from acting to avert the climate threat, even when they recognise the problem. So how can we best engage individuals, companies and communities in the quest for solutions?
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Stranded! When assets become liabilities
28 Feb 2020
Until recently, many investors made light of dire warnings of the risks posed by assets becoming “stranded” by climate change. However, as the threat becomes reality, fears are mounting that whole industries could be wiped out.
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‘Sticking’ it to carbon: The pros and cons of taxing emissions
28 Feb 2020
With governments urged to do more to tackle climate change, carbon taxes are being touted as a politically expedient solution.
Read more
Slash and burn: The link between land use and climate change
28 Feb 2020
Poor land management contributes to rising global temperatures. But solutions are emerging as new technologies improve farming efficiency and consumers shift towards climate-friendly diets.
Read more
Hot water: The threat of warming oceans
28 Feb 2020
As the challenges posed by climate change continue to loom large, due attention should be given to oceans, not just the solid ground under our feet and the air we breathe.
Read more
An inconvenient transition
28 Feb 2020
Despite deafening calls for countries and companies to step up to fight the climate crisis, research suggests individuals – especially in the developed world – could also make a massive difference if they committed to getting by with less. But will they?
Read more
Climate data: Seeing through the fog
28 Feb 2020
Big data is heralded as the answer to almost every problem, so why not the climate crisis?
Read more
Economic research
COVID-19: Can a lasting recovery happen without a vaccine?
21 Aug 2020
With the notable exception of China, countries around the world have struggled to get their economies firing on all cylinders without COVID-19 infections flaring up again. Until a way to contain the virus is found, recoveries are likely to remain stop-start and fragile, argue Ian Pizer, Mark Robertson and Sunil Krishnan.
Read more
COVID-19 and antimicrobial resistance: The next health crisis?
19 Aug 2020
As the world grapples with COVID-19, antibiotics used to treat serious secondary bacterial infections associated with the coronavirus are making their way into wastewater with potentially dire consequences. Abigail Herron questions whether investors appreciate the seriousness of what antimicrobial resistance could lead to.
Read more
The new rules of client engagement
18 Aug 2020
As the coronavirus pandemic reshapes our working lives, asset managers must find new ways to interact with their clients, says Apiramy Jeyarajah.
Read more
The AIQ Podcast: Risk and resilience in an age of uncertainty
11 Aug 2020
The latest episode of the AIQ podcast explores the nature of risk in an uncertain world. How can we stay resilient when the unexpected occurs?
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Education, entrepreneurship and biological age: An interview with Andrew Scott
6 Aug 2020
In part two of our interview with Professor Andrew Scott from London Business School, we look at how policy will shift to take account of people living for longer and how service providers will respond.
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Longevity, policy and technology: An interview with Andrew Scott
6 Aug 2020
Living longer brings enormous opportunities to reshape how we spend our time. But in the first of a two-part interview, Andrew Scott from London Business School explains how advances in longevity and technology have not been matched by innovation in social structures or our approach to financial planning.
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Roll of the dice: Risk and resilience in an age of uncertainty
21 Jul 2020
The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the difficulties of managing risk in an increasingly globalised and interconnected world. We explore how organisations can stay resilient through an era of radical change.
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The Technocrat: Lord Adair Turner
21 Jul 2020
With developed economies stuck in a high-debt and low interest rate trap, the former head of Britain’s financial watchdog believes central banks should break a long-held taboo and finance governments directly.
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Economics and ethics: Why diversity matters
21 Jul 2020
In business, diversity can be the difference between success and failure. But while progress towards it has been frustratingly slow in many areas, the pressure is mounting on companies to act.
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Pandemic risk: When will we learn our lesson?
21 Jul 2020
COVID-19 has reminded us that the sources of economic and financial crises can be wildly unpredictable. However, while spotting patient zero in advance was nigh on impossible, pandemic risk was well telegraphed. In the first part of our mini-series, The source of the next crisis, we consider whether an infectious disease could wrong-foot us again or whether governments will learn their lesson.
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Cybersecurity in the fourth industrial revolution
21 Jul 2020
COVID-19 shocked investors into taking pandemic risks more seriously. In an increasingly connected world, where data is the new oil, could cyberattacks be the next big threat?
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Inflation hawks: Crying wolf?
21 Jul 2020
Twelve years on from the financial crisis, inflation hawks are back. They were proved wrong then, but could this time be different? In part three of our mini-series on the source of the next crisis, we explore the extent to which inflation poses a risk to the global economy and financial stability.
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Geopolitics: Could the coronavirus pandemic lead to a new Cold War?
21 Jul 2020
The US-China relationship has deteriorated in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. What does this geopolitical rivalry mean for the global economy and markets?
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Nature and neglect: The era of ecological disasters
21 Jul 2020
As the frequency and ferocity of natural hazards increase, in part five of our mini-series on the source of the next crisis AIQ considers the economic and investment implications and what we can learn from past mistakes.
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The Economist: John Kay
21 Jul 2020
AIQ speaks to economist and author John Kay about risk, uncertainty and the longer-term implications of the coronavirus pandemic.
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Policy moves into the great unknown, but at what cost?
21 Jul 2020
Policymakers are dreaming up ever more radical experiments to try and pull economies out of what could be the deepest recession in living memory. But until the world can cure its addiction to debt, financial markets will remain on a knife edge.
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