“Straight Talk” featuring equity portfolio manager Nevin Chitkara - Running Bull or Waking Bear: Why Value Makes Sense
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Equity Insights
Perspectives from MFS Equity Experts
Strategist’s Corner
Inflation Surprise? No, Not Really
Equity Insight
Monthly Equity Market Topics
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Exploring AI: From Hype to Opportunity
What does the disruptive AI phenomenon mean for investors? MFS thought leaders explore the companies and industries that might benefit.
Market Pulse
Leveraging the expertise from the MFS Market Insights team to provide timely perspectives on economic and market dynamics that are top of mind for clients.
GLP-1s Weigh on the Market
A high-level overview of recent developments in the weight loss drug category and explore how they may impact other industries. These highly effective drugs were born out of research to treat diabetes but have additional benefits.
Harnessing Lessons from a Century of Investing
Mike Roberge, CEO, and Carol Geremia, President and Head of Global Distribution, reflect on how the past 100 years of investing has prepared investors for many of the challenges they face today, as well as in the future.
Latest Insights
Get the latest on global markets and economies as well as what's top of mind for our thought leaders.
US Inflation Takes Small Step in Right Direction
A review of the week’s top global economic and capital markets news.
Fixed Income Under the Spotlight: Exploring Tail Risks: What-If Scenarios in the Year of the Dragon
Co-CIO of Fixed Income Pilar Gomez-Bravo, shares her thoughts on how our global fixed income strategies are positioning exposures given these tail risks.
Sustainability in Action: Linde
This case study highlights the importance of adopting a system-wide perspective on corporate emissions data accounting and reporting while pursuing workable solutions in the journey to net zero.
Monthly Equity Market Topics
An examination of market trends and dynamics across the global equity markets.
Should Emerging Market Debt Investors Worry About Higher-For-Longer?
Explores the implications that higher interest rates may have for sovereign emerging market debt (EMD) investors.
Macro Talking Points - Week of 13 May 2024
Global fixed income market analysis through a macroeconomic lens.
Markets Grind Higher, Approach Record Levels
A review of the week’s top global economic and capital markets news.
MFS® Emerging Markets Debt Strategy - Quarterly Portfolio Update | Transcript
How Has Low Volatility Performed in Down Markets?
We explore how minimum- and low-volatility equities have behaved over the last 20 years, given the relatively strong equity markets, and how those lower-risk stocks have performed during past market drawdowns.
Market Pulse
Leveraging the expertise from the MFS Market Insights team to provide timely perspectives on economic and market dynamics that are top of mind for clients.
Fed Rate Hike Fears Vanish
A review of the week’s top global economic and capital markets news.
Back to Bonds: Why it may be time to make the move
Fixed Income public brochure that illustrates why the bond window of opportunity is now open for long-term investors.
2023 MFS DC Plan Sponsor Survey
Explore the results of MFS' 2023 MFS DC Plan Sponsor Survey! This study gathered sponsor perspectives on retirement confidence, managing investment lineups in uncertain markets, retirement income and their views on an array of legislative issues and litigation concerns.
MFS Digest: May 2024
The MFS Digest summarizes key market themes and topics affecting investors and features related thought leadership from across MFS.
2023 MFS Annual Sustainability Report
Annual report offering a comprehensive review of our approach to sustainability, material factor integration, proxy voting and engagement activities at MFS for the 2023 calendar year.
2023 MFS Strategic Climate Action Plan
In line with the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), this report outlines MFS’ view on climate change and our related actions in both our investment process and business operations.
US Inflation Stays Stubbornly High
A review of the week’s top global economic and capital markets news.
2024 DC Retirement at a Glance
Monthly retirement insights
MFS EMD Team Views on the Situation in the Middle East
Provides commentary on the current geopolitical environment in the Middle East and how the Team is positioning its portfolios.
MFS® International Diversification Fund - Quarterly Portfolio Update | Transcript
Inflation Surprise? No, Not Really
The market is currently correcting mistaken assumptions that were based on a market cycle driven by artificially low interest rates. As market dynamics shift, the source of a company's growth will also shift.
China’s Q1 GDP strong, but other indicators point to weakness
A review of the week’s top global economic and capital markets news.
A Different Paradigm
As the world shifts away from one of artificially suppressed interest rates and cheap manufacturing, investors will need to carefully consider how companies are positioned to navigate the new higher-cost paradigm.
MFS® International Equity Strategy - Quarterly Portfolio Update | Transcript
Factor Returns Around the Fed Pivot
Thought leadership paper around how factor returns behaved in periods of past rate cuts.
MFS® Growth Strategy: Quarterly Portfolio Update | Transcript
Amid Sticky Inflation, Fewer, Later Rate Cuts Expected
A review of the week’s top global economic and capital markets news.
Natural Capital: Practical Ways to Assess Financial Materiality for Companies
This summary explores the impact of biodiversity on companies and provides practical ways for investors to assess the risks and opportunities from it.
You Can’t Hurry Cuts. You Just Have to Wait.
A review of the week’s top global economic and capital markets news.
DC Pulse // 1Q 2024 in Review
Research, regulations, returns and trends in DC
GLP-1s Weigh on the Market
We provide a high-level overview of recent developments in the weight loss drug category and explore how they may impact other industries. These highly effective drugs were born out of research to treat diabetes but have additional benefits.
US Economy Finished 2023 Strong
A review of the week’s top global economic and capital markets news.
The Benefits of Low Volatility as a Strategic Allocation
Given economic uncertainty and market volatility, we believe an appropriately sized strategic allocation to a low-volatility equity strategy may allow investors to lessen downside risk and realize long-term competitive returns without having to experience extreme swings.
Fed Turns Dovish, BOJ Hikes
A review of the week’s top global economic and capital markets news.
AI Tipping Point: A Deep Dive Into Semiconductors
Which semiconductor companies will be long-term winners from the AI boom? What risks do supply chains and energy usage bring to the sector? This episode of the All Angles podcast features Genevieve Gilroy, sector lead for semiconductors and consumer staples at MFS. Genevieve describes the challenges and opportunities in the semiconductor space and explains why valuations matter when navigating the AI hype cycle.
Exploring Opportunities for Global Small- and Mid-Cap Stocks in the Next Cycle
MFS Stewardship Report: Fourth Quarter 2023
This quarterly report provides an update on our sustainability efforts, in addition to proxy voting and company engagement highlights from the three-month period ended 31 December 2023.
Taxable Municipal Bonds May Hold the Key to Better LDI Portfolios
With deeper representation across the long duration spectrum, lower historical default rates and higher yields relative to comparable quality corporate bonds, taxable municipal bonds can complement and potentially enhance LDI portfolios.
Inflation’s Last Mile Gets Bumpier
A review of the week’s top global economic and capital markets news.
Simplicity and Complexity: Striking a Balance in Sustainable Investing
Sustainable investing is simple in theory but confusing in practice. We reflect on challenges posed by the current approach and how embracing complexity can help investors overcome the challenges.
European High Yield: High Yield, High Expectations
Outlines why we believe European High Yield is an asset class that deserves to be on investors’ radar given its attractive valuation characteristics, fundamental strength, favorable technicals and long-term performance record.
The Time is Right
We examine the performance of low volatility stocks through the lens of market cycles and offer our perspective on the outlook for these stocks, which we believe are well positioned as we move into the next phases of the current cycle.
Powell Looks Past Inflation Uptick
A review of the week’s top global economic and capital markets news.
Why We Support the Value Underdog
An examination of why there's an opportunity for value-focused investors in the current environment.
Markets Mark Time Ahead of Big Data Week
A review of the week’s top global economic and capital markets news.
Sustainability in Action: Schneider Electric
This case study demonstrates our bottom-up analysis of Schneider Electric and how we identify investment opportunities in a decarbonizing world.
Retirement Plan Investment Vehicles: The Growing Use of CITs
This paper discusses investment vehicle selection in DC plans with particular focus on the growing use of collective investment trusts (CITs) and highlights some of the important decisions plan sponsors should consider when implementing a CIT.
Tech Earnings Rekindle AI Enthusiasm
A review of the week’s top global economic and capital markets news.
Indexing Dilutes Capitalism
Rob Almeida examines how indexation has amplified the disconnect between valuations and fundamentals.
Inflation Uptick Dampens US Rate Cut Outlook
A review of the week’s top global economic and capital markets news.
Declining Interest Rates Have Historically Signaled Positive Relative Performance for US Low Volatility
Examines how low-volatility stocks may perform considering the market consensus rate assumptions, which currently anticipate rates cuts, and a declining rate environment for 2024.
China Intervenes to Support Stocks
A review of the week’s top global economic and capital markets news.
Fixed Income Under the Spotlight: Three Key Themes for 2024
Co-CIO of Fixed Income Pilar Gomez-Bravo, addresses many of the pressing issues facing today’s bond investors including the fight between growth and inflation, building portfolios for an uncertain world and fragility.
Declining Interest Rates Have Historically Signaled Positive Relative Performance for Global Low Volatility
Examines how low-volatility stocks may perform considering the market consensus rate assumptions, which currently anticipate rates cuts, and a declining rate environment for 2024.
Rate Cut Hopes Dim Amid Strong US Data
A review of the week’s top global economic and capital markets news.
US Economic Growth Beats Expectations
A review of the week’s top global economic and capital markets news.
Great Expectations
Financial markets appear optimistic to start the year, while investors currently believe inflation will slow, rates fall, and profits rise. Rob Almeida explains why those beliefs may be contradictory.
Capital Markets View Summary
A summary of MFS views on current economic conditions and global financial market trends.
MFS Long-Term Capital Market Expectations: January 2024
The January 2024 edition of MFS' Long-Term Capital Market Expectations includes proprietary expectations that look at return and risk across a variety of asset classes and regions. This version is presented in US Dollar terms and details our market expectations and our view of current economic and capital market conditions.
Market Moderates Rate-Cut Outlook
A review of the week’s top global economic and capital markets news.
2024 Retirement Outlook
In this piece, we discuss key considerations for retirement plan sponsors in 2024, including where markets may be headed, how sponsors can address declining retirement confidence, trends in regulation, legislation and litigation, and the road forward for defined benefit plans.
Expanding Horizons: The Case for Global Bonds in Liability-Driven Investing
Global investment-grade bonds can potentially complement traditional liability-driven investment (LDI) strategies, bringing the potential for attractive risk-adjusted returns while still maintaining critical liability hedging characteristics.
Tame US PPI Offsets Hot CPI
A review of the week’s top global economic and capital markets news.
The Big Mac on Fixed Income Allocation: FIFOMO
In this edition of the Big Mac, we discuss how the Fixed Income Fear Of Missing Out (FIFOMO) is going to be the new fear that fixed income investors will soon be facing.
Rate Cut Expectations Trimmed
A review of the week’s top global economic and capital markets news.
2024 6 Key Themes
Forward-looking snapshot of what we believe will be relevant and may influence the markets and economy.
Markets Extend Gains Ahead of Holidays
A review of the week’s top global economic and capital markets news.
Wrap Up: All Angles Season 2 Insights and Reflections
A summary of all key themes and topics covered from All Angles Season 2 podcast.
Powell Ponders Pivot
A review of the week’s top global economic and capital markets news.
International Large Cap Value: The Forgotten Asset Class
Investors seeking to capture the benefits of diversification may be well served by an allocation to international large cap value given its sector composition and the low correlation of the asset class to US equity markets.
Solid US Jobs Report Cools Rate Cut Speculation
A review of the week’s top global economic and capital markets news.
How the Capital Cycle Could Impact 2024
How might investors think about the year ahead? The capital cycle fuels the engine of progress, but it can also create excesses and inefficiencies. Rob examines why that’s relevant today and going forward.
A November to Remember!
A review of the week’s top global economic and capital markets news.
Stocks Extend Nearly Month-Long Rally
A review of the week’s top global economic and capital markets news.
The End of Declining Capital Intensity
Rob Almeida examines how a shift from supply chain efficiency to resiliency will likely affect a company's return on capital. What type of companies are positioned to navigate this paradigm shift, and which companies are not?
Markets Price a Quicker Fed Pivot
A review of the week’s top global economic and capital markets news.
Fixed Income Investing in US Recessions
We examine how, during economic downturns, fixed income has offered diversification benefits and reduced the volatility of portfolios that include risk assets such as equities.
Starting Points Matter: Why International Equities Might Be Worth a Second Look
Why consider an allocation to both US and non-US companies? We believe that the starting point for market today is vastly different from that of the past decade. And, with rising rates, higher inflation, and shrinking liquidity, investors who seek the best companies across the global markets could help maximize portfolio returns.
Overcoming the Complexity of Sustainability in Fixed Income
This paper uncovers how to distinguish sustainability signals from noise in fixed income.
Capital Markets View
The MFS Capital Markets View entering the fourth quarter of 2023 aggregates insights on the equity and fixed income asset classes across regions and countries.
The Retirement Income Dilemma
Retirement income is top of mind for many plan sponsors these days. In this paper, explore what MFS is solving for and what have we have learned so far.
Emerging Market Debt: Navigating ESG Risk and Uncertainty
Successful investors in emerging market debt must contend with complexity and uncertainty on several levels. We believe our integrated approach, plus our ability to identify and model material risk factors, enables us to better manage risk while focusing on capitalizing on investment opportunities.
The Far-Flung Past is Prologue
The negative stock/bond correlation from 1998 until 2019 was the anomaly, not the positive relationship that began in 2022. While correlations of asset classes normalize, the importance of security selection and manager allocation will matter immensely.
Understanding the Drivers of Retirement Confidence
Explore the results of MFS' 2023 MFS Global Retirement Survey! In this retirement insight we share the responses from US participants on market event impacts, retirement confidence and the power of quality advice.
Thriving Amid Change | Transcript
Either Stocks or Bonds are Wrong
Real yields in the US are either too high or equity valuations are well above fair value. Investors who can understand which enterprises possess real value and those that do not, will find themselves in an enviable position compared with the broader market.
The Big Mac on Cash Allocation: Time to Retire the CD Player*
With the federal funds rate at or near peak levels, we believe that cash is likely to start underperforming credit in the period ahead. We favor deploying some credit risk as an attractive alternative to a cash allocation.
Road to Better Outcomes: Survey Highlights | Transcript
A Constructivist Approach to Sustainability
This paper provides an overview of constructivism stewardship and how it works in practice.
2023 MFS Asset Allocation Study | US Edition
Views on an Increasingly Complex World
Authentic DEI: Making it Personalized, Actionable and Transparent
How can leaders effectively integrate DEI into their organizations? In Episode 6 of the All Angles podcast, MFS’ Chief Diversity Equity & Inclusion Officer Michelle Thompson-Dolberry shares her thoughts on meeting people where they are, building the process rather than checking the box and practical ways to apply DEI in the workplace.
What’s Old is New Again: Reopening Your Defined Benefit Plan Could Help Solve the Retirement Challenge
We propose that now might be the time for plan sponsors who have closed or frozen their DB plans to give these plans a fresh look.
Choosing Optimism in the Polycrisis Era
Carol Geremia speaks to how policy, the economy and individual can play a bigger game in each of their areas.
Is Engagement More Powerful Than Exclusion?
MFS Sustainable Investing experts explain why they believe engagement is more powerful than exclusion as a way to encourage long-term value creation and economic growth.
Revisiting the Role of Fixed Income Along the Retirement Savings Journey
From Theory to Practice
2022 MFS Annual Sustainability Report
Annual report offering a comprehensive review of our approach to sustainability, material factor integration, proxy voting and engagement activities at MFS for the 2022 calendar year.
A Mid-Year Conversation on the Economy | Transcript
An Active Approach to Investing in Taxable Municipal Bonds
We examine the strategic case for investing in the taxable municipal bond asset class and present the argument for active investment to seek alpha. We also review why we think it is currently an attractive time to consider an allocation to the taxable municipal market.
Sustainability in Action: Volkswagen
This case study highlights the power of active management, and how a forward-looking, bottom-up, ESG-rating agnostic approach can unveil untapped investment opportunities for investors.
Finding a Sweet Spot for Local Emerging Market Debt
We discuss the four stages of the typical cycle for emerging markets local debt, the fundamental framework of the marketplace, and the potential opportunity set offered to today's investors.
Active Management in Fixed Income: Opportunities, Risks and Investment Approach | Transcript
Top Risks and Opportunities Beyond the Headlines | Transcript
The Increasing Need to Reach Deeper Into the Tool Box
We have begun a new regime, where investors will need to do a lot more homework and may find it advantageous to use a mosaic of not only valuation, but also fundamental tools, to help guide the way through this cycle.
Governance Matters: Assessing Sustainability in Emerging Market Debt
This article delves into how we assess financial materiality, governance factors and return drivers in emerging market debt.
Dude, Where's My Recession?
MFS Chief Economist provides perspective on the current economy, central bank thinking, and the trajectory of a potential recessionary environment.
Beyond the Headlines: Accelerated Risk and Opportunities for Investors
In this era of volatility, what are the implications for asset allocation and what risk and opportunities sit beyond the headlines? In partnership with Eurasia Group, a geopolitical risk firm that helps clients understand and navigate the changing global landscape, MFS uncovers the major implications on emerging technologies and energy transition.
Exploring the Commercial Application of Artificial Intelligence
Like other technological advancements, artificial intelligence will almost certainly disrupt many companies, and perhaps entire industries, but how? We share our perspective on AI and its potential impact on the real economy and existing business models.
The Big Mac on Macro Regimes: The Market Paradigm Shift
The prevailing macro regime, the “fear of the Fed,” is likely to end in the near future. A shift away from it should bring better prospects for fixed income returns, and in our view it may be time to consider raising allocations to fixed income.
Fixed Income Capacity Management: Striving to Preserve Alpha Generation for Clients
Capacity management is a key component of a client-centric philosophy and an active management approach to fixed income portfolios.
The Renaissance of Active Management
MFS CEO Mike Roberge discusses the shifting dynamics of today's marketplace and how active managers are positioned to tune out the short-term noise and identify those things that drive long-term value.
The Rise of Artificial Intelligence
We provide a high-level overview of recent developments in artificial intelligence technology, the implications for industries and thoughts around investment opportunities.
EM Local Debt: The Stars May Soon Be Aligning
Emerging market local debt is a cyclical asset class, where each cycle is generally characterized by four stages. As we approach the fourth stage, we believe that local debt could become an attractive option for investors.
Responsible Investing Policy Statement
How we help our clients achieve their investment goals by employing an investment approach that integrates environmental, social and corporate governance.
2023 Mid-Year Outlook
MFS Global Investment Strategist Rob Almeida offers a mid-year perspective on the global equity and fixed income markets.
Grow the Pie: Finding a Win-Win for Investors and Society
This article describes how the value a company creates can be divided between profits to investors or value to society. and how a shift away from a ‘fixed pie’ mentality can help to grow both investor profit and societal value.
A New Paradigm for Institutional Investing
Kim Hyland, Head of Global Institutional Relationship Management, and Rob Almeida, Global Investment Strategist, examine current trends affecting institutional investors and explain why the environment ahead will be fundamentally different than the past couple of decades.
Markets are Distracted
Rob Almeida warns that headlines are often distractions. It's not that they're not important, it's just that they're a small part of a larger mosaic.
MFS Fixed Income History
Provides insight on MFS's deep history and expertise fixed income as well as its risk managed approach and Global Research Platform.
MFS Net Zero Progress Report
As a signatory of the Net Zero Asset Managers initiative (NZAM), MFS supports the goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 or sooner. This report provides an update on progress across the globe since July 2021, when MFS joined the NZAM.
The Potential Benefits for European Investors of a Strategic Allocation to Emerging Market Debt
MFS Celebrates International Women’s Day 2023 | Transcript
MFS Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures
An outline of our voting guidelines and procedures on a wide range of topics, including how we assesses and vote on environmental, social and governance issues.
Policy on Cluster Munitions
This Policy prescribes the application of laws adopted by certain countries that are signatories to the United Nations Convention on Cluster Munitions.
Sequence of Returns Risk
Is Your Retirement Nest Egg Prepared?