14 min readDOWNLOAD FULL REPORT Abstract We identify three themes to watch for cash investors each year. For 2020, we comment on the Fed’s neutral stance, the continued non-solution for repo market liquidity, and the popularity of ESG (environmental, social and governance) investing. Introduction At the start of each year, we typically name three broad themes that…
2 min readIf you are among the 20 percent of institutional cash managers who don’t have a formal investment policy statement, it may be time to draft one. And if you do have one, December is a good time to dust it off and update it for the coming year. According to the 2019 AFP Liquidity Survey,…
18 min readDOWNLOAD FULL REPORT Abstract We set out to answer 10 of the most common questions that arise when writing investment policy statements (“IPS”) for cash portfolios. In doing so, we will provide a number of peer group data comparisons to add insight and context to the process. The 10 questions focus on the following subjects…
2 min readAfter three interest rate cuts since July, the Fed signaled last month that it finally expects to take a breather, with no more moves for a while. But that only means we have to start wondering what may come next. Will the recent spate of positive economic news prompt the Fed to reverse course and…
12 min readDOWNLOAD FULL REPORT Abstract The pause by the Fed after three rate cuts removes some near-term uncertainty for short-term interest rates. On balance, we think the economy faces more headwinds than tailwinds, and thus the probability of further cuts is significant enough to warrant some portfolio readjustment. A yield curve that is no longer inverted…
2 min readWhen overnight repo rates temporarily rose from 2% to 10% in September, some dismissed the spike as an unfortunate but rare confluence of idiosyncratic circumstances. But if that makes you think the liquidity crunch was a one-time event, think again. Our October research report, Repo Ruckus Reveals Hidden Issues in Liquidity Markets, makes a good…
19 min readDOWNLOAD FULL REPORT Abstract Rather than dismissing September’s repo turbulence as stemming from idiosyncratic events easily rectified by the Fed, we think that the event reveals broader vulnerabilities within the hidden plumbing of our financial system. Although not all institutional cash portfolios directly use repo, this squeeze should concern us all. We don’t think there…
2 min readAre you feeling as uneasy as I am? China’s growth is slowing, Brexit is looming, and winds of war in the Middle East have sent oil prices on a roller coaster. Closer to home, the yield curve is inverting, corporate debt is mushrooming, and just last week Wall Street and the Fed were caught napping…
10 min readCo-authored by: Spyros Qendro, CFA®, and Carter Bourassa DOWNLOAD FULL REPORT Abstract In an environment characterized by limited forward visibility, it’s more crucial than ever for cash investors to understand the landscape and the risks and opportunities it creates. In this paper, we will evaluate what makes a successful cash management strategy while underscoring the…
2 min readAmid expectations that the Fed will soon complete its about-face from hawk to dove with its first rate cut since 2008, cash investors are looking as hard as ever for relatively safe short-term investments capable of delivering decent returns. And many are turning to a market that in the past they often overlooked—corporates with BBB…