Evolution of Fixed Income Investments: The Path to a New World Approach

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1 Evolution of Fixed Income Investments: The Path to a New World Approach CFA Society of Pittsburgh April 21, 2011 Bill Nemerever Partner LLC Proprietary information not for distribution beyond intended recipient.

2 State of Play A brief history of fixed income investing -- Expanding investment options -- Advances in technology -- Evolution of portfolio management Proprietary information not for distribution to the public. Copyright 2011 by LLC. All rights reserved. 2

3 State of Play A brief history of fixed income investing -- Expanding investment options -- Advances in technology -- Evolution of portfolio management Problems with popular investment mandates Proprietary information not for distribution to the public. Copyright 2011 by LLC. All rights reserved. 3

4 State of Play A brief history of fixed income investing -- Expanding investment options -- Advances in technology -- Evolution of portfolio management Problems with popular investment mandates New World Bond Management Proprietary information not for distribution to the public. Copyright 2011 by LLC. All rights reserved. 4

Expanding Investment Options 1960s Proprietary information not for

11 The Yield Book

12 The Yield Book

Advances in Technology 1960s 1970s Proprietary information not for

24 Typical Benchmark-Oriented Bond Management is Bad Index composition drifts over time; the past is not representative Proprietary information not for distribution to the public. Copyright 2011 by LLC. All rights reserved. 24

25 Typical Benchmark-Oriented Bond Management is Bad Index composition drifts over time; the past is not representative Popular benchmarks represent a fraction of the fixed income market Proprietary information not for distribution to the public. Copyright 2011 by LLC. All rights reserved. 25

26 Typical Benchmark-Oriented Bond Management is Bad Index composition drifts over time; the past is not representative Popular benchmarks represent a fraction of the fixed income market Most indexes have little relation to investor objectives Proprietary information not for distribution to the public. Copyright 2011 by LLC. All rights reserved. 26

30 Why own Bonds? Diversify equity exposure Hedge liabilities Hedge deflation/inflation Gain foreign bond and currency exposure Proprietary information not for distribution to the public. Copyright 2011 by LLC. All rights reserved. 30

31 Why own Bonds? Diversify equity exposure Hedge liabilities Hedge deflation/inflation Gain foreign bond and currency exposure Provide a source of liquidity Proprietary information not for distribution to the public. Copyright 2011 by LLC. All rights reserved. 31

32 View of the New World

35 What s the Right Beta? Interest rate risk is the most important Beta through derivatives requires little cash Proprietary information not for distribution to the public. Copyright 2011 by LLC. All rights reserved. 35

36 What s the Right Beta? Interest rate risk is the most important Beta through derivatives requires little cash Local government term structures explain most bond price moves Proprietary information not for distribution to the public. Copyright 2011 by LLC. All rights reserved. 36

37 What s the Right Beta? Interest rate risk is the most important Beta through derivatives requires little cash Local government term structures explain most bond price moves Secondary exposures like credit or sector are best addressed when thinking about alpha Proprietary information not for distribution to the public. Copyright 2011 by LLC. All rights reserved. 37

38 Equity Market Diversification Is it reasonable to expect bonds to offset stock market declines? Proprietary information not for distribution to the public. Copyright 2011 by LLC. All rights reserved. 38

39 Equity Market Diversification Is it reasonable to expect bonds to offset stock market declines? What is the proper hedge ratio? Proprietary information not for distribution to the public. Copyright 2011 by LLC. All rights reserved. 39

40 Worst Case Examples Total Return S&P 500 Quarterly % 0% -5% -10% -15% -20% -25% 4Q87 4Q08 3Q02 3Q01 3Q90 2Q02 1Q01 2Q10 1Q09 3Q81 3Q98 1Q08 3Q08 4Q00 1Q82 3Q96 3Q99 1Q80 3Q85 1Q94 4Q07 1Q03 1Q90 2Q08 2Q00 2Q84 1Q92 1Q84 2Q81 1Q05 3Q04 2Q82 2Q06 3Q00 2Q91 3Q83 Proprietary information not for distribution to the public. Copyright 2011 by LLC. All rights reserved. 40 Source:, Barclays

41 Historical Diversification Total Return (75% Stock/25% Bond) S&P 500, Barclays Aggregate and Government/Credit Bond Indexes Quarterly Proprietary information not for distribution to the public. Copyright 2011 by LLC. All rights reserved. 41

42 Historical Diversification 10% Total Return (75% Stock/25% Bond) S&P 500, Barclays Aggregate and Government/Credit Bond Indexes Quarterly % 0% Barclays Long U.S. Government/Credit Barclays Aggregate -5% 4Q07 2Q08-10% S&P 500 1Q09 3Q08 1Q08-15% -20% 4Q08 Recent Equity Bear Market 4Q07 through 1Q09 4Q87 4Q08 3Q02 3Q01 3Q90 2Q02 1Q01 2Q10 1Q09 3Q81 3Q98 1Q08 3Q08 4Q00 1Q82 3Q96 3Q99 1Q80 3Q85 1Q94 4Q07 1Q03 1Q90 2Q08 2Q00 2Q84 1Q92 1Q84 2Q81 1Q05 3Q04 2Q82 2Q06 3Q00 2Q91 3Q83 Proprietary information not for distribution to the public. Copyright 2011 by LLC. All rights reserved. 42 Source:, Barclays

43 Hedged 75/25 Portfolio Returns Portfolio Return (75% Stock/25% Bond) S&P 500, Barclays Aggregate and Government/Credit Bond Indexes Quarterly Proprietary information not for distribution to the public. Copyright 2011 by LLC. All rights reserved. 43

44 Hedged 75/25 Portfolio Returns Portfolio Return (75% Stock/25% Bond) S&P 500, Barclays Aggregate and Government/Credit Bond Indexes Quarterly % 5% 75% S&P 500/25% Barclays Aggregate 0% 4Q07 2Q08-5% -10% 1Q09 1Q08 3Q08 75% S& P 500/25% Barclays Long U.S. Government/Credit -15% -20% 4Q08 Recent Equity Bear Market 4Q07 through 1Q09 4Q87 4Q08 3Q02 3Q01 3Q90 2Q02 1Q01 2Q10 1Q09 3Q81 3Q98 1Q08 3Q08 4Q00 1Q82 3Q96 3Q99 1Q80 3Q85 1Q94 4Q07 1Q03 1Q90 2Q08 2Q00 2Q84 1Q92 1Q84 2Q81 1Q05 3Q04 2Q82 2Q06 3Q00 2Q91 3Q83 Proprietary information not for distribution to the public. Copyright 2011 by LLC. All rights reserved. 44 Source:, Barclays

45 Hedged 25/75 Portfolio Returns Portfolio Return (25% Stock/75% Bond) S&P 500, Barclays Aggregate and Government/Credit Bond Indexes Quarterly Proprietary information not for distribution to the public. Copyright 2011 by LLC. All rights reserved. 45

46 Hedged 25/75 Portfolio Returns 10% Portfolio Return (25% Stock/75% Bond) S&P 500, Barclays Aggregate and Government/Credit Bond Indexes Quarterly % 25% S&P 500/75% Barclays Aggregate 0% 4Q07-5% 4Q08 1Q09 1Q08 3Q08 2Q08 25% S& P 500/75% Barclays Long U.S. Government/Credit -10% -15% -20% Recent Equity Bear Market 4Q07 through 1Q09 4Q87 4Q08 3Q02 3Q01 3Q90 2Q02 1Q01 2Q10 1Q09 3Q81 3Q98 1Q08 3Q08 4Q00 1Q82 3Q96 3Q99 1Q80 3Q85 1Q94 4Q07 1Q03 1Q90 2Q08 2Q00 2Q84 1Q92 1Q84 2Q81 1Q05 3Q04 2Q82 2Q06 3Q00 2Q91 3Q83 Proprietary information not for distribution to the public. Copyright 2011 by LLC. All rights reserved. 46 Source:, Barclays

48 Hedging Specific Liabilities A more-tractable problem Regulatory changes are increasing the focus on liability-driven investing Proprietary information not for distribution to the public. Copyright 2011 by LLC. All rights reserved. 48

49 Hedging Specific Liabilities A more-tractable problem Regulatory changes are increasing the focus on liability-driven investing It s key to determine how much hedging is desired and what form it should take Proprietary information not for distribution to the public. Copyright 2011 by LLC. All rights reserved. 49

50 Hedging Specific Liabilities A more-tractable problem Regulatory changes are increasing the focus on liability-driven investing It s key to determine how much hedging is desired and what form it should take Actuaries can provide a schedule of risk-free interest rate exposures to serve as a pension benchmark Proprietary information not for distribution to the public. Copyright 2011 by LLC. All rights reserved. 50

51 Sample Liability Benchmark Maturity (Years) Weight 1-1.8% 2-0.1% 5 4.1% % % % % % 100.0% Liability Value 245 million Proprietary information not for distribution to the public. Copyright 2011 by LLC. All rights reserved. 51

53 Deflation/Inflation Protection What degree of protection is desired? Scenario analysis is helpful in quantifying hedge ratios Proprietary information not for distribution to the public. Copyright 2011 by LLC. All rights reserved. 53

54 Deflation/Inflation Protection What degree of protection is desired? Scenario analysis is helpful in quantifying hedge ratios If inflation falls (or rises) by X% what response is expected from bond portfolio? Proprietary information not for distribution to the public. Copyright 2011 by LLC. All rights reserved. 54

55 Foreign Bond & Currency Diversification Foreign bonds: efficient way to gain non-domestic interest rate and currency exposure Proprietary information not for distribution to the public. Copyright 2011 by LLC. All rights reserved. 55

56 Foreign Bond & Currency Diversification Foreign bonds: efficient way to gain non-domestic interest rate and currency exposure Additionally can provide exposure to offshore credit risks Proprietary information not for distribution to the public. Copyright 2011 by LLC. All rights reserved. 56

57 Foreign Bond & Currency Diversification Foreign bonds: efficient way to gain non-domestic interest rate and currency exposure Additionally can provide exposure to offshore credit risks Excellent for hedging liabilities tied to foreign risk factors Proprietary information not for distribution to the public. Copyright 2011 by LLC. All rights reserved. 57

58 Establishing a Beta Benchmark Must convert investment objectives into an investable bond benchmark Proprietary information not for distribution to the public. Copyright 2011 by LLC. All rights reserved. 58

59 Establishing a Beta Benchmark Must convert investment objectives into an investable bond benchmark Assumptions about correlations between risks to be hedged and benchmark are required Proprietary information not for distribution to the public. Copyright 2011 by LLC. All rights reserved. 59

60 Establishing a Beta Benchmark Must convert investment objectives into an investable bond benchmark Assumptions about correlations between risks to be hedged and benchmark are required Liability benchmarks are easy, equity hedging using bond benchmarks, more challenging Proprietary information not for distribution to the public. Copyright 2011 by LLC. All rights reserved. 60

62 Equity Hedging Example A scenario approach is a useful way to frame the problem An example: -- Expect to offset a third of S&P 500 losses in a quarter Proprietary information not for distribution to the public. Copyright 2011 by LLC. All rights reserved. 62

63 Equity Hedging Example A scenario approach is a useful way to frame the problem An example: -- Expect to offset a third of S&P 500 losses in a quarter -- Assume when stocks decline, Barclays Long G/C Index rises by an amount equal to half the equity market loss Proprietary information not for distribution to the public. Copyright 2011 by LLC. All rights reserved. 63

65 The Math %Stocks X Stock Return X 1/3 = %Bonds X Stock Return X 1/2 Rearranging gives us our Stock/Bond allocation ratio %Stocks / %Bonds = 1.5 ~ 60% Stocks / 40% Bonds Proprietary information not for distribution to the public. Copyright 2011 by LLC. All rights reserved. 65

66 Issues Relationship between stock and bond index returns is variable and not always negatively correlated Proprietary information not for distribution to the public. Copyright 2011 by LLC. All rights reserved. 66

67 Issues Relationship between stock and bond index returns is variable and not always negatively correlated More reasonable to look at interest rate changes associated with falling stock prices and select a benchmark duration to produce the required result Proprietary information not for distribution to the public. Copyright 2011 by LLC. All rights reserved. 67

69 Important Steps Provide a specific answer to the question, Why do I own bonds? Establish an executable benchmark that captures the spirit, and in some cases the letter, of your objective Proprietary information not for distribution to the public. Copyright 2011 by LLC. All rights reserved. 69

71 What About Alpha? Secondary to establishing an effective benchmark Active strategies shouldn t compromise benchmark effectiveness in meeting investment objectives Proprietary information not for distribution to the public. Copyright 2011 by LLC. All rights reserved. 71

72 What About Alpha? Secondary to establishing an effective benchmark Active strategies shouldn t compromise benchmark effectiveness in meeting investment objectives Good active bond managers can add value that is competitive with, and diversifies, equity alpha Proprietary information not for distribution to the public. Copyright 2011 by LLC. All rights reserved. 72

73 Investment Management Template I. Beta Exposures Term Structure (Nominal or Inflation- Linked) Currency Credit Duration Cumulative Liquidity Proprietary information not for distribution to the public. Copyright 2011 by LLC. All rights reserved. 73

74 Investment Management Template I. Beta Exposures II. Active Management Guidelines Term Structure (Nominal or Inflation- Linked) Currency Credit Duration Cumulative Liquidity Proprietary information not for distribution to the public. Copyright 2011 by LLC. All rights reserved. 74

75 Investment Management Template I. Beta Exposures II. Active Management Guidelines Term Structure (Nominal or Inflation- Linked) Currency Credit Duration Cumulative Liquidity Investment Universe Performance Objectives III. Account Structure Fee Structure Proprietary information not for distribution to the public. Copyright 2011 by LLC. All rights reserved. 75

76 Beta Exposures Term Structure (Nominal or Inflation-Linked) Overnight Cash 3-Month 1-Year 2-Years 15% 5-Years 10-Years 45% 20-Years 30-Years 40% 40-Years 50-Years Total 100% -OR- Average Duration U.S. Euro U.K. Japan Canada Currency 100% Credit Duration* (May be static or dynamically set as a function of relative valuation) Investment Grade High Yield Emerging 1.5 years 2 years 1 year Cumulative Liquidity Normal Stressed 1-Day 10% 5% 1-Week 25% 13% 1-Month 50% 25% 3-Months 90% 70% Proprietary information not for distribution to the public. Copyright 2011 by LLC. All rights reserved. 76

77 Guidelines Active Management Guidelines Term Structure (Nominal or Inflation-Linked) Currency Credit Duration* (May be static or dynamically set as a function of relative valuation) Overnight Cash 3-Month 1-Year 2-Years 5-Years 10-Years 20-Years 30-Years 40-Years 50-Years Total -OR- Average Duration Investment Grade High Yield Emerging +/- 10% +/- 15% +/- 10% USD: +/- 35%, all developed market term structures permitted +/- 1 year USD: +/- 20%, All developed market currencies permitted +/- 20% Minimum rating: BBB, Range: +/- 2 years Minimum rating: CCC, Range: +/- 1 year No local currency exposure, Range: +/- 2 years Cumulative Liquidity 1-Day 1-Week 1-Month 3-Months U.S Treasuries, custodial sweep accounts U.S Treasuries only U.S Treasuries, foreign government bonds Government bonds, LIBOR-based AAA rated bonds Proprietary information not for distribution to the public. Copyright 2011 by LLC. All rights reserved. 77

78 Structure III. Account Structure Investment Universe Derivatives permitted No: Equities, municipal bonds, convertibles Counterparties rated A or better, maximum 10% Co-mingled funds require look-through Performance Objectives Fee Structure Excess Return Information Ratio Tracking Error Horizon Base -Plus- Incentive 150 basis points, annualized, net of fees 0.4 to to 300 basis points Rolling 5 years 20 basis points -Plus- 25% of excess or return over beta, net of base fee and net of 3-month LIBOR; subject to high water mark Proprietary information not for distribution to the public. Copyright 2011 by LLC. All rights reserved. 78

79 Fixed Income Can Play a Valuable Role in Endowment Portfolios Diversification: Significant outperformance in bear equity markets Proprietary information not for distribution to the public. Copyright 2011 by LLC. All rights reserved. 79

80 Fixed Income Can Play a Valuable Role in Endowment Portfolios Diversification: Significant outperformance in bear equity markets Deflation/inflation hedging Proprietary information not for distribution to the public. Copyright 2011 by LLC. All rights reserved. 80

81 Fixed Income Can Play a Valuable Role in Endowment Portfolios Diversification: Significant outperformance in bear equity markets Deflation/inflation hedging Adding value: Many bond strategies are more effective than equity counterparts Proprietary information not for distribution to the public. Copyright 2011 by LLC. All rights reserved. 81

83 Conclusions It s critical to align portfolio beta benchmarks with investment objectives Process begins by articulating explicit goals and incorporating them in an investable benchmark Proprietary information not for distribution to the public. Copyright 2011 by LLC. All rights reserved. 83

84 Conclusions It s critical to align portfolio beta benchmarks with investment objectives Process begins by articulating explicit goals and incorporating them in an investable benchmark Bond beta and alpha decisions must fit within a broader asset allocation framework Proprietary information not for distribution to the public. Copyright 2011 by LLC. All rights reserved. 84

85 The End

Why Are Fixed Income ETFs Growing?

Fixed Income ETFs Why Are Fixed Income ETFs Growing? Lee Sterne, CFA Vice President, ETF Strategy Angus Stewart, CFP Director, Investment Product Michael Hodapp Fixed Income Regional Brokerage Consultant