Over the first quarter of 2025, Carmignac P. Global Bond generated a performance of +0.85% (A EUR Acc), while its reference indicator1 returned -1.36%.
Market Review
Like at the end of 2024, volatility remained a major issue in fixed income markets at the start of the year. However, regional dynamics reversed, with growth outlooks for the euro zone being revised upward, while the US dominance was increasingly questioned. The Trump administration's policies, including the possibility of widespread tariffs and a more isolationist stance, stifled investors' optimism. This shift raised fears of reduced American purchasing power and future inflation, while prompting greater independence among NATO members for defense needs, notably in Germany. The new chancellor, Friedrich Merz, successfully pushed through an unprecedented fiscal stimulus package. Following this announcement, German interest rates spiked, with the 10-year rate jumping by over 40 basis points in 24 hours, marking a significant turning point for German growth, projected to reach 2% by 2027. Meanwhile, US interest rates fell by 36 basis points due to fears over budget cuts and tariff impacts on consumers.
Central banks did not introduce major surprises, with two rate cuts from the European Central Bank and a continued pause in the Federal Reserve's rate cut cycle. Both institutions revised their inflation outlooks upwards for the end of 2025, to 2.3% for the euro zone and 2.7% for the US.
In this context, credit spreads showed resilience, rising by only 15 basis points in the high-yield segment (iTraxx Xover), despite increased volatility at the end of the quarter. Regarding currencies, the euro appreciated significantly against the dollar and most other currencies, driven by fiscal stimulus measures in Germany and the negative impact of tariffs on US growth, creating a growth differential favoring Europe.
Performance Review
In terms of performance, the quarter can be divided into two parts. A strong performance in the first two months thanks to our focus on US and European yield curve steepening and inflation strategies, short Japanese rates and exposure to certain emerging market curves. Our credit and external debt exposure to certain emerging markets also played an important role. Finally, our long positions in Latin American currencies such as the Brazilian real and Mexican peso, which suffered last year, and the Japanese yen were also beneficial.
March was more challenging, although the fund performed well relatively. Despite short positions in European debt at the time of Germany’s fiscal U-turn announcement, the fund was affected by long positions in the United Kingdom and certain EM exposure. Credit protections only partially mitigated the negative impact from widening credit spreads on corporate debt and hard-currency emerging markets debt. Lastly, the significant appreciation of the euro weighed on our exposure to the US dollar and long positions in the Japanese yen, despite maintaining cautious exposure throughout the period.
Outlook
In an environment characterised by uncertainty over tariffs, European defence budgets and geopolitical issues, as well as increasingly stretched valuations in certain markets, we expect the major developed and emerging market central banks to gradually continue their monetary easing policies. As a result, we are keeping modified duration at a relatively high level at around 6.
In terms of rate strategies, we favour real rates in the United States as economic data point to a slowdown in the face of tariffs. Similarly, we are focusing on central banks that are behind the cycle, such as the United Kingdom, and certain emerging markets, such as Brazil, which is benefiting from high real rates, while we are short Japanese rates, where inflation is firming, and in non-core European countries, given the high level of defence spending and tight valuations.
With regard to credit, although this asset class offers an attractive carry opportunity, we remain cautious due to high valuations and maintain a significant hedge on the iTraxx Xover to protect the portfolio from the risk of spread widening.
On the currency side, we maintain a relatively low exposure to the US dollar and limited exposure to emerging market currencies. Our currency selection includes Latin American currencies (BRL, CLP) and we are long the Japanese yen, as we expect it to be the only central bank to hike interest rates this year.
Carmignac Portfolio Global Bond
Carmignac Portfolio Global Bond A EUR Acc
- Recommended minimum investment horizon
- 3 years
- Risk indicator*
- 2/7
- SFDR - Fund Classification**
- Article 8
*Risk Scale from the KID (Key Information Document). Risk 1 does not mean a risk-free investment. This indicator may change over time. **Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) 2019/2088. The SFDR classification of the Funds may change over time.
Main risks of the fund
Fees
- Entry costs
- 2.00% of the amount you pay in when entering this investment. This is the most you will be charged. Carmignac Gestion doesn't charge any entry fee. The person selling you the product will inform you of the actual charge.
- Exit costs
- We do not charge an exit fee for this product.
- Management fees and other administrative or operating costs
- 1.24% of the value of your investment per year. This estimate is based on actual costs over the past year.
- Performance fees
- 20.00% when the share class overperforms the Reference indicator during the performance period. It will be payable also in case the share class has overperformed the reference indicator but had a negative performance. Underperformance is clawed back for 5 years. The actual amount will vary depending on how well your investment performs. The aggregated cost estimation above includes the average over the last 5 years, or since the product creation if it is less than 5 years.
- Transaction Cost
- 0.14% of the value of your investment per year. This is an estimate of the costs incurred when we buy and sell the investments underlying the product. The actual amount varies depending on the quantity we buy and sell.
Performance
| Carmignac Portfolio Global Bond | +0.9 | +1.8 | +3.0 | −5.6 | +0.1 | +4.7 | +8.4 | −3.7 | +0.1 | +9.5 |
| Reference Indicator | −1.4 | +2.8 | +0.5 | −11.8 | +0.6 | +0.6 | +8.0 | +4.3 | −6.2 | +4.6 |
| Carmignac Portfolio Global Bond | +0.3% | +1.8% | +1.0% |
| Reference Indicator | −2.1% | −2.9% | −0.1% |
Source: Carmignac at Mar 31, 2025.
Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future performance. Performances are net of fees (excluding possible entrance fees charged by the distributor). The Fund presents a risk of loss of capital.
The return may increase or decrease as a result of currency fluctuations, for the shares which are not currency-hedged.
Reference Indicator: JPM Global Government Bond index