AXA Investment Managers
Rethinking liquidity with short-dated bonds
By Nicolas Trindade, Senior Portfolio Manager at AXA Investment Managers
Short-dated fixed income securities could be a way for investors to enhance cash returns by taking an intermediate step into riskier assets while still limiting volatility. Nicolas Trindade, portfolio manager of the AXA Global Short Duration and Sterling Credit Short Duration strategies outlines how the evolving economic backdrop makes a shift away from cash worth considering.
Holding a large portion of cash for liabilities or risk management purposes can drag down overall portfolio performance, especially when returns from other asset classes are more attractive. As such, it becomes imperative to explore alternative avenues for improving risk-adjusted returns.
Short-dated bonds – A compelling alternative to enhance cash returns
The recent bond sell-off in 2022 has offered great opportunities for investors. With yields at historically high levels, the short-dated part of the market continues to look very attractive. Short-dated bonds have proven their resilience over this hiking cycle, providing much better returns to investors when compared to longer duration strategies. Nevertheless, not all strategies are equal, and given the high volatility, we believe that flexibility, active management and credit selection are paramount.
Short-dated bonds typically have maturities ranging from one to five years, making them a suitable bridge between cash holdings and longer-term fixed income investments. While riskier than cash, the higher returns on offer, limited volatility, and natural liquidity of short-dated bonds make them an attractive alternative. Low duration, attractive carry and diversification can help to mitigate the negative impact of rising government bond yields and widening credit spreads, reducing drawdowns during market downturns.
There are key characteristics of short-dated bonds that make them particularly suited for liquidity management.
Low volatility: Short-dated bonds tend to exhibit lower price volatility compared to their longer-term counterparts, making them an attractive option for cash liquidity strategies.
Natural liquidity pipeline: As short-dated bonds mature, the principal is returned to the investor, creating a natural liquidity pipeline. This reduces the need to trade and incur additional costs, further benefiting portfolio performance.
Pull to Par: In environments where bonds are trading at a discount, the pull to par opportunity, where bonds are redeemed at their face value upon maturity is attractive. This can potentially enhance returns, even when central bank rates are rising.
Active management to mitigate risk
Passive strategies can be useful in certain situations, but we believe that a short-dated bond allocation will benefit from active management. Active managers can seek out bonds with favourable risk-reward profiles, capitalizing on market inefficiencies. An active manager has the flexibility to select bonds carefully, reducing the possibility of defaults. By conducting rigorous credit analysis, they can construct a high-quality portfolio, minimizing the impact of potential credit events.
In passive strategies, bonds that experience a rating downgrade may be automatically sold, potentially crystallizing losses. This can impact potentially attractive bonds that are caught up in structural shifts – for example, when sectoral influences see all companies in an area being re-rated, without paying attention to the characteristics of individual issuers.
Active managers, on the other hand, can choose to hold a bond when the rating changes, and can hold it to maturity, avoiding forced sales at inopportune times and preserving capital.
Enhancing performance and liquidity
Allocating a section of your investment portfolio to short-dated bonds is a compelling strategy for enhancing performance and liquidity. Short-dated bonds offer an attractive risk-adjusted alternative for cash-heavy portfolios with various liabilities or liquidity requirements. The ability to add risk and potential returns with limited volatility, the natural liquidity pipeline, and the potential for pull to par returns make short-dated bonds a valuable addition to any investment portfolio.
Moreover, opting for active management provides further benefits, such as default risk mitigation, avoiding forced sales, and the potential for yield enhancement through careful bond selection.
By considering short-dated bonds as part of a cash liquidity strategy rather than a traditional bond allocation, investors can optimize their portfolios and navigate the complexities of the current financial landscape with greater confidence and improved returns.
Important information
Not for Retail distribution: This marketing communication is intended exclusively for Professional, Institutional or Wholesale Clients / Investors only, as defined by applicable local laws and regulation. Circulation must be restricted accordingly.
This document is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment research or financial analysis relating to transactions in financial instruments as per MIF Directive (2014/65/EU), nor does it constitute on the part of AXA Investment Managers or its affiliated companies an offer to buy or sell any investments, products or services, and should not be considered as solicitation or investment, legal or tax advice, a recommendation for an investment strategy or a personalized recommendation to buy or sell securities.
Issued in the UK by AXA Investment Managers UK Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK. Registered in England and Wales No: 01431068. Registered Office: 22 Bishopsgate London EC2N 4BQ
In other jurisdictions, this document is issued by AXA Investment Managers SA’s affiliates in those countries.
