Propose and defend reweighting a global portfolio in response to current and anticipated macroeconomic developments
The idea
The recommendation links a macro view to the sensitivities of each holding. Start with where each economy sits in its cycle, its inflation and policy outlook and its currency, then translate. An economy moving into slowdown with an easing central bank argues for longer duration and less credit and cyclical equity; one entering early expansion argues for equities over bonds and higher credit risk; unexpected inflation argues against long bonds and for real assets. A good justification names the specific indicator driving each change, states the expected effect on each asset class, keeps changes within the policy ranges, and checks the combined portfolio for unintended bets. The trap is recommending on a narrative without tying it to the asset's exposures.
In the app: 1 practice questions on this outcome, a narrated walkthrough with diagrams, spaced review that brings it back before you forget it.
Take the free diagnostic →More in Capital Market Expectations, Part 2: Forecasting Asset Class Returns
- Set out the methods for estimating expected returns on fixed income
- Explain the risks of investing in emerging market bonds and the tools of country risk analysis used to judge such economies
- Set out the methods used to form expected returns for equity markets
- Explain the risks particular to holding emerging market equities
- Explain how economic conditions and competition shape expected returns for real estate markets and individual property sectors
- Set out the main approaches used to forecast currency movements
- Set out the techniques used to forecast volatility and covariance