The second week of April offered investors two data points, the latest US jobs report and the inflation numbers for Match, that they hoped would make the case for a pause in the Federal Reserve’s tightening cycle. Although headline inflation in March came in at a one-year low and the number of new non-farm jobs created was the least in over two years, investors were left hoping that the Fed will focus on the trends rather than the actual, positive numbers.
Fixed income markets are abuzz about the spectacular demand for new green bonds. Flows into fixed income funds with socially responsible investing (SRI) or environmental, social and governance (ESG) mandates have soared, whereas those tracked by EPFR have seen their Assets under management increase sevenfold since the beginning of 2019.
EPFR-tracked Bond Funds were swept up in the broad correction that hit most fund groups in late February, posting their first weekly outflow in over a year during the seven days ending March 4, as fears about the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) continued to pummel asset classes ranging from oil to junk bonds.
