Defined Contribution (DC) plans are rapidly becoming the primary retirement investment vehicle for a majority of employees across the US and other markets around the globe. Asset allocation for DC plans has to strike a balance between growth and protection assets over the savings lifecycle while...

Both inflationary and deflationary concerns have emerged as global economies continue to struggle with recovery. In this confusing environment, inflation-protected bonds can play an important role in plan sponsors' asset allocation dilemma especially in light of yesterday's Fed announcement of...

This Research Insight examines the impact of the unfolding European sovereign debt crisis, focusing on Greece, Portugal, Ireland, Spain, and Italy (GPISI). We use the new, short-horizon Barra Integrated Model (BIM Daily) to measure sovereign bond investment risk and provide insight into this...

In 2009, emerging market bonds were among the top-performing assets in comparison to both the global equity and fixed income asset classes. The recent, rapid rise in US Treasury yields and the concern over tightening monetary policies in certain countries led us to evaluate the relationship...

High fiscal deficits, a sharp rise in the issuance of sovereign debt from major developed economies, rising inflation expectations, and possible changes in central bank rates could cause the yield curves from around the world to change significantly. In the US, the yield curve has already...