Fixed Income Strategies: Positioning during the New Wave

Published on
November 10, 2020
Read time
6 minute(s) read

In this “lower rate for longer” environment, find out the positioning of our funds:

On March 10th, 2021, four of our Fixed Income Funds have changed their name. The word “unconstrained” has been removed and Carmignac Portfolio Unconstrained Euro Fixed Income has been renamed Carmignac Portfolio Flexible Bond.

Carmignac Sécurité & Carmignac Portfolio Sécurité

We maintain a relatively high modified duration close to 3. The Fund’s average rating is BBB and average YTM is 1.14%. The portfolio has a tilt toward Credit and a short-dated exposure to non-core sovereign debt.

Sovereign component (24% of the fund's total assets)

  • Our exposure to sovereign debt is mainly composed of non-core European debt offering significant credit spreads at a time of negative interest rates (i.e., Italy, Greece, Portugal & Cyprus) and in anticipation of renewed ECB support.
  • We actively manage our exposure to Italian sovereign debt that account for the bulk of our government bond portfolio in a volatile market environment.
  • Stability at markedly negative yields and central bank’s dovishness encourage us to have limited exposure in the core segment.

Corporate component (63%)

  • Although we have reduced our exposure to Credit starting in August by selling the longest maturities in our portfolio, as well as on issues with small positive yield that didn’t enjoy direct ECB support, Credit remain our main conviction with more than half of the fund’s total assets.
  • We keep our exposure to highly rated and short maturity investment-grade corporate credit in order to take minimal risk.
  • We maintain our conviction on specific situations in sectors impacted by the crisis (Leisure, Airlines, Auto…) we believe in market leaders with healthy business models, strong balance sheets and access to liquidity guaranteed by their ability to pledge their assets (even if the health crisis lasts another 12 to 18 months).
  • By reducing portfolio risk while holding onto several strong convictions, we should have the agility required to navigate upcoming events (US presidential election, Brexit and a possible vaccine) which all have the potential to make financial asset prices more volatile.

Cash component (13%)

  • We keep a large allocation to cash items at c.13% (cash account, T-bills and money market funds). In addition, we have c.8% of our bonds maturing or likely called within the next 12 months.
**Visit the Fund's page:**

Carmignac Portfolio Unconstrained Euro Fixed Income

Our main convictions:

  • Still a strong exposure to the credit market with now 54%:

Mainly through exposure to the HY segment (15%) and financial subordinates (12%). We have just reinforced our exposure to HY credit after:

  • The ECB's very accommodating speech in October which should deliver in December.
  • Lockdowns in Europe which do not seem to be paralysing economies as in the first wave in spring 2020.
  • A spread widening since mid-October which offered good entry points.

We also maintain our Covid-names convictions (both IG and HY ratings) which still offer an attractive carry and potential for appreciation in the medium term.

  • We keep our strong exposure to Italian sovereign debt (should largely benefit from ECB support/ No more short-term political risk/ Attractive carry level).

  • Positive duration on core countries (mainly on the EUR and US yield curves but also, more modestly, on AUD and GBP yield curves) to take advantage of monetary support around the world and protect the portfolio in the case of macroeconomic deterioration resulting in flight to quality movements.

  • Optional strategies on the US yield curve to flexibly adjust our interest rate risk exposure.

High modified duration at 6.5 and a net exposure to the Fixed Income markets at 86%.

Carmignac Portfolio Unconstrained Credit

  • Despite a solid performance year-to-date, the opportunity set is still attractive.
  • Credit markets have come back close to the levels where they were trading at the beginning of 2019. Yet these valuations hide an extreme level of segmentation between what is perceived as safe (which is bid at all cost by participants constrained to invest in credit to find some income) and situations that are more complex, cyclical or affected to some degree by the Covid19 crisis which trade at very wide levels.
  • This segmentation has been a recurring feature in credit markets for the past years, but this trend has been exacerbated by the ongoing situation. This is an attractive environment for bond pickers.
  • Although we have slightly decreased the Fund’s exposure in the last few weeks to lock some profits, we are staying well invested with a high net High Yield exposure as attractive opportunities remain plentiful.
  • We focus on specific situations in sectors impacted by the crisis (Leisure, Airlines, Auto…) we believe in market leaders with healthy business models, strong balance sheets and access to liquidity guaranteed by their ability to pledge their assets (even if the health crisis lasts another 12 to 18 months).
  • We maintain a high exposure to CLOs, which offers an attractive risk/return profile.
  • These opportunities today allow us to build a highly diversified portfolio offering an attractive excess spread, i.e. the difference between the spreads of bonds in the Fund and our estimation of these instruments’ costs of risk, which is much larger than it has been in the years preceding the Covid-19 crisis.
**Visit the Fund's page:**

Carmignac Portfolio Unconstrained Global Bond

Higher overall modified duration which stands close to 8.3 and limited currency risk. The Fund’s average YTM stands at 3.35% now with a BBB+ average rating 1 .

  • Currency component: Cautious positioning favoring the Euro and a light short exposure to the USD, as the US Covid-19 wave in the Midwest and the uncertainties could generate some volatility on the greenback. We are also maintaining a net short position on the CAD due to weak macroeconomic fundamentals and the lack of carry while we are maintaining a long position on both the CNH & AUD as both currencies are linked to Chinese growth. Fund’s main FX exposure: EUR 103% / USD -10% / AUD 8% / CAD -8% / IDR 5% / CNH 3% / Others -1%.

  • Rates component:

o Reinforced long duration strategy with a diversified exposure to core rates between the US & Australia.
o Decent allocation to EM external debt (Russia, Romania, Morocco) and Chinese local rates.

  • Credit component: Long IG and more modestly HY. Physical allocation to some idiosyncratic names where we are well paid for the fundamental cost of risk on both primary and secondary markets. Tactical higher credit markets beta thanks to a short position on Xover CDS index (short indices CDS = long credit risk).
**Visit the Fund's page:**
1 Source: Carmignac, 30/10/2020.

Carmignac Sécurité

Main risks of the Fund
INTEREST RATE: Interest rate risk results in a decline in the net asset value in the event of changes in interest rates. CREDIT: Credit risk is the risk that the issuer may default. RISK OF CAPITAL LOSS: The portfolio does not guarantee or protect the capital invested. Capital loss occurs when a unit is sold at a lower price than that paid at the time of purchase. CURRENCY: Currency risk is linked to exposure to a currency other than the Fund’s valuation currency, either through direct investment or the use of forward financial instruments. The Fund presents a risk of loss of capital.

* Risk Scale from the KIID (Key Investor Information Document). Risk 1 does not mean a risk-free investment. This indicator may change over time. A EUR Acc share class ISIN code: FR0010149120.

Carmignac Portfolio Sécurité

Main risks of the Fund
INTEREST RATE: Interest rate risk results in a decline in the net asset value in the event of changes in interest rates. CREDIT: Credit risk is the risk that the issuer may default. RISK OF CAPITAL LOSS: The portfolio does not guarantee or protect the capital invested. Capital loss occurs when a unit is sold at a lower price than that paid at the time of purchase. CURRENCY: Currency risk is linked to exposure to a currency other than the Fund’s valuation currency, either through direct investment or the use of forward financial instruments. The Fund presents a risk of loss of capital.

* Risk Scale from the KIID (Key Investor Information Document). Risk 1 does not mean a risk-free investment. This indicator may change over time. F EUR Acc share class ISIN code: LU0992624949.

Carmignac Portfolio Unconstrained Euro Fixed Income

Main risks of the Fund
INTEREST RATE: Interest rate risk results in a decline in the net asset value in the event of changes in interest rates. CREDIT: Credit risk is the risk that the issuer may default. Risk of capital loss: The portfolio does not guarantee or protect the capital invested. Capital loss occurs when a unit is sold at a lower price than that paid at the time of purchase. Currency: Currency risk is linked to exposure to a currency other than the Fund’s valuation currency, either through direct investment or the use of forward financial instruments. The Fund presents a risk of loss of capital.

* Risk Scale from the KIID (Key Investor Information Document). Risk 1 does not mean a risk-free investment. This indicator may change over time.A EUR Acc share class ISIN code: LU0336084032.

Carmignac Portfolio Unconstrained Credit

Main risks of the Fund
CREDIT: Credit risk is the risk that the issuer may default. INTEREST RATE: Interest rate risk results in a decline in the net asset value in the event of changes in interest rates. Currency: Currency risk is linked to exposure to a currency other than the Fund’s valuation currency, either through direct investment or the use of forward financial instruments. Discretionary management: Anticipations of financial market changes made by the Management Company have a direct effect on the Fund's performance, which depends on the assets selected. The Fund presents a risk of loss of capital.

* Risk Scale from the KIID (Key Investor Information Document). Risk 1 does not mean a risk-free investment. This indicator may change over time. A EUR Acc share class ISIN code: LU1623762843.

Carmignac Portfolio Unconstrained Global Bond

Main risks of the Fund
INTEREST RATE: Interest rate risk results in a decline in the net asset value in the event of changes in interest rates. CREDIT: Credit risk is the risk that the issuer may default. CURRENCY: Currency risk is linked to exposure to a currency other than the Fund’s valuation currency, either through direct investment or the use of forward financial instruments. DISCRETIONARY MANAGEMENT: Anticipations of financial market changes made by the Management Company have a direct effect on the Fund's performance, which depends on the assets selected. The Fund presents a risk of loss of capital.A EUR Acc share class.

* Risk Scale from the KIID (Key Investor Information Document). Risk 1 does not mean a risk-free investment. This indicator may change over time. A EUR Acc share class ISIN code: LU0336083497.

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This document is intended for professional clients. This is an advertising document. This document may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without prior authorisation from the management company. This document does not constitute a subscription offer, nor does it constitute investment advice. Carmignac Portfolio refers to the sub-funds of Carmignac Portfolio SICAV, an investment company under Luxembourg law, conforming to the UCITS Directive. The Funds are common funds in contractual form (FCP) conforming to the UCITS Directive under French law.The return may increase or decrease as a result of currency fluctuations, for the shares which are not currency-hedged. Reference to certain securities and financial instruments is for illustrative purposes to highlight stocks that are or have been included in the portfolios of funds in the Carmignac range. This is not intended to promote direct investment in those instruments, nor does it constitute investment advice. The Management Company is not subject to prohibition on trading in these instruments prior to issuing any communication. The portfolios of Carmignac funds may change without previous notice. Access to the Fund may be subject to restrictions with regard to certain persons or countries. The Fund is not registered in North America, in South America, in Asia nor is it registered in Japan. The Funds are registered in Singapore as restricted foreign scheme (for professional clients only). The Fund has not been registered under the US Securities Act of 1933. The Fund may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, for the benefit or on behalf of a "U.S. person", according to the definition of the US Regulation S and/or FATCA. The Fund presents a risk of loss of capital. The risks and fees are described in the KIID (Key Investor Information Document). The Fund's prospectus, KIIDs and annual reports are available at www.carmignac.com, or upon request to the Management Company. The KIID must be made available to the subscriber prior to subscription.

  • In Switzerland, the Fund’s respective prospectuses, KIIDs and annual reports are available at www.carmignac.ch, or through our representative in Switzerland, CACEIS (Switzerland) S.A., Route de Signy 35, CH-1260 Nyon.The paying agent is CACEIS Bank, Paris, succursale de Nyon/Suisse, Route de Signy 35, 1260 Nyon.
  • In Spain: Carmignac Portfolio is registered with Comisión Nacional del Mercado de Valores de España (CNMV) under number 392, Carmignac Securité 395.