Is your investment strategy on track? Keep up with the latest perspectives.
Mercer’s Investments Research Perspectives offers you the latest insight into investment trends, tools and strategies gathered by our global team of research and consulting professionals.
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Economic and market outlook 2024We are operating in a highly complex and dynamic world, underlined with fragilities in the global economy. Investors need to respond with clarity and agility.
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Beware recency bias ’Buy the dip’ is not a guaranteeThe oft-heard refrain after the global financial crisis was ‘buy the dip’, as accommodative central banks and a fear of missing out drove investors to buy risk assets indiscriminately. However, a broader view of history paints a very different picture.
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Should you skip vintages?An important question many private market investors are contemplating is whether they should “skip” a vintage in their private market portfolio funds.
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Lags in private marketsAs private market exposures increase in many institutional portfolios, lags in areas such as capital deployment, performance measurement, reporting and valuations become increasingly relevant.
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2023 mid-year economic and market outlook2023 looks likely to end with an economic recovery marked by strong regional divergence as nations respond to challenging inflation, tight labor markets and geopolitical turbulence.
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Hedge Fund Outlook 2023In light of the current environment and the strong relative performance of hedge funds recently, we thought it timely to revisit our outlook on the opportunity set across the hedge fund landscape.
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Diversity dressing - Progress evaluationMercer firmly believes that a diverse team with shared values is more likely to outperform its less-diverse peers.
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Budgeting for active managementThere has been little discussion of the key factors that we believe help to frame allocation decisions on when and where to include both active and passive management strategies in a portfolio.
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Lessons from past recessions - The best offense is a good defenseConcerns over a looming global recession have picked up of late, even if the narrative has shifted to a ‘soft’ or even ‘no landing' scenario since the onset of 2023.
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Managing through an inflation cycle - Inflation playbookHow quickly will inflation come down? This is the key question that everyone is looking for an answer to in the current cycle.
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Private markets – Modern diversificationThe opportunity set in private markets is deep. It is therefore important to diversify across a range of managers using a variety of strategies.
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Private markets – positioning for transitionPrivate markets can help investors implement their intentions. Get our perspective where we explore how private markets can help investors achieve sustainability objectives.
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Private markets – inflation playbookPrivate markets have various built-in inflation-protection characteristics. Get our perspective where we explore how private markets can manage inflation.
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Shifting sands, turning tides - addressing investment regime change.Are today's conditions simply "transitory," a short-term fallout of the shocks of recent years?
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Top considerations for alternatives in 2023Global disruption could accelerate already-growing demand for impact-focused solutions.
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Investment considerations for endowments and foundations in 2023Plotting a course through volatile markets.
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Economic and market outlook 2023The global economy is bending, but not breaking.
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Investment themes and opportunities in 2023 and beyondDéjà new - applying past experience to a new market landscape.
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The market bears: portfolio robustness in uncertain marketsThe first nine months of 2022 were difficult, both for investors and the world as a whole. Will what transpires in the economy and financial markets be too hot, too cold, or just right?
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The future of globalizationGlobalization describes the integration of the world across various dimensions such as trade, financial flows and culture. Having started in the nineteenth century, this mega trend accelerated in the 1980s as technology gains helped minimize the impact of distance and natural barriers.
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Investment decision challenges in private marketsIt is generally accepted that meaningful feedback can improve the outcome of many activities. However, the nature and structure of private markets are inconsistent with several concepts of meaningful feedback.
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Managing a hedge fund allocation - what is the recipe for success?In our experience, finding the best managers and assembling them in a diversified framework through disciplined position sizing is the hedge fund recipe for success.
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Private markets for endowments and foundationsInvestors should be open to the potentially attractive and diversifying return sources available in illiquid asset classes (private markets).
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What should endowment investors be doing about inflation?Explore actions endowment & foundation investors can and should take at a strategic, portfolio and manager level to improve resilience and navigate inflation.
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Mid-year market outlook 2022Can inflation be curbed without a crash landing? At the start of 2022, our outlook for the year was broadly positive. Half-way through, we remain upbeat, though with an element of added caution.
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A landscape overview of transition-oriented climate indexesClient interest in transition-oriented climate indexes has increased, and as a result, so have the offerings from index providers.
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Commodities in an inflation-aware portfolioRising inflation levels in the US and other developed markets have had everyone asking whether the trend is transitory or something more structural?
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The ESG spotlight turns to natural capitalInvestors are starting to understand that protecting natural capital is the next big challenge and an essential component of mitigating climate change.
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Steady as she goes: keeping your calm in down marketsAfter a nerve-wracking journey over the last two years, we entered 2022 with hopes of a smooth ride, only to find ourselves in another asteroid field of challenges.
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Inflation: Turning up the heatThe Russia-Ukraine crisis: further pressure on inflation.
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Private markets: top considerations for 2022Why invest in private markets? In our annual alternative investments paper, we examine key considerations across the various private market asset classes from the perspectives of both investors and fund managers.
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Top considerations for endowments and foundations in 2022A number of economic and market issues pose serious questions for investors about where to find long-term opportunities. We uncover what we believe should be top-of-mind for endowments and foundations in 2022.
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Raising your impact ambition - a case for impact investmentImpacting targets the interconnections between investments and the effect they have on people's lives and our environment. Executed well, this approach can provide a diverse range of new investment opportunities.
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Economic outlook 2022 and beyondRead our global economic outlook where we explain why we think 2022 will be the year of economic recovery.
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Themes and opportunities 2022 and beyondDiscover three key investment themes we believe investors should consider in their decision making in 2022.
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Inflation protection — hope for the best, but build robust portfoliosThe question is whether the post-reopening bout of inflation will persist, and if so, how will it affect portfolios?
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Investment podcast series: critical thinking, critical issuesJoin Mercer experts, in our podcast series, to hear insights, market themes, new ideas and where opportunities may lie for investors in 2021 and beyond.
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The power of changeAs institutional investors’ increasing appetite to embrace and promote Diversity, Equity and Inclusion within their investment portfolios coincides with a push into private markets, we have explored how they can be intertwined within their investment strategy.
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The case for a dedicated China equity allocationWe believe investors should have a larger allocation to China's onshore market through a dedicated China equity allocation.
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Inflation and disinflation: debate rekindledArguments for both inflation and disinflation are compelling. We carefully consider both sides.
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The road to recovery: market outlook 2021We invite you to get our perspective on how 2020 is shaping 2021, their global and regional economic impact, viewpoints on markets and how investor can set themselves up for the next year.
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Themes and opportunities 2021We’ve summarized the key themes and opportunities investors need to look out for in 2021 in this paper.
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How to be ready for investment opportunitiesApplying an opportunistic mindset may potentially deliver enhanced return outcomes with the right governance approach.
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What do I do with my factors?Building robust equity portfolios in uncertain times.
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Is there still a strategic, long-term case for value?The performance of "value" style investing through the COVID-19 pandemic has raised questions over the relevance of the value factor in building robust equity portfolios.
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Navigating a pandemic-driven market crisis: investment governance and strategy.How to convert global systemic risks into sustainable returns during the pandemic.
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Where do we go from here? A consideration of past equity market downturnsWe examine past market downturns of similar magnitude and predict possible influence on current investor portfolios.
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COVID-19 elevates the value of responsible investingResponsible investing (RI) and environmental social and governance (ESG) analysis has been evaluating and evolving systems approaches and studying resilience for some time. The value of ESG analysis is becoming increasingly clear. Read this paper to get our views.
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Time to buy high yield debtHigh yield credit spreads have widened significantly. The time for investors to consider the opportunities within the sub-investment grade sector and in particular high yield is now. Read this paper to get our views.
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The impact of COVID-19 on alternative assetsWhat are some of the impacts COVID-19 will have on alternative investments? Read this paper to get our views on the investment implications.
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Rebalancing in troubled markets: guidelines for investorsRebalancing in troubled markets is a risk-management discipline. Read this paper to get our views on portfolio implications.
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Recent developments and the market impactCoronavirus continues to cause a severe shock to the global economy, likely pushing it into a recession. Read this paper to get an update on the affects this may have on global growth.
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Coronavirus outbreak update: investment implicationsThe recent outbreaks of the virus may add to the uncertainty and widen the range of outcomes for global economic growth.
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2020 themes & opportunitiesChange is on the horizon, learn more on 2020 themes and opportunities and the impact on responsible investing.
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Investment implications of coronavirusWhat affect could the Coronavirus have on the economic growth? Read the latest take on the Coronavirus from Mercer’s Research Investments team.
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Economic outlook 2020Stay informed with our take on the latest investment research and best thinking.
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Diversity and culture impact Mercer's manager ratings, what about yours?Learn how diversity is making Mercer's investment research team better. Are you reaping the benefits at your company?
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Cash - Return of the king? Find out if cash should be part of your future investment strategy.Cash as an investment option may currently be more attractive than it used to be. Can including cash in more conservative portfolios help with risk reduction?
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What are the benefits and drawbacks of dividend investing?Equity income strategies have a role to play within an investor's portfolio. What might be their role in yours?
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Active versus passive managementMoney talks, and more of it flows to passively managed assets each day. Find out more about active and passive management.
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Q&A on income strategiesIt is critical to understand the different types of investors—how their income needs & risk profile can differ substantially—before designing an investment solution.
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A guide to responsible investment indicesThe shift toward Responsible Investment (RI) equity has asset managers considering a wide range of indices to manage ESG risk.
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Sustainability is gathering momentum: A theme and an opportunity for 2How could actions taken today impact on economy of tomorrow? Join us on a journey to sustainable investing.
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Equity manager selectionHow relevant is past investment performance in picking the winners of tomorrow? Learn more about possible connections.
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From QE to QT: building robust portfoliosThe transition from quantitative easing to quantitative tightening is likely to create an environment of heightened investment risks.
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Preparing for late credit cycle dynamicsFind out the indicators and characteristics of the late stage of the credit cycle and how it might impact asset performance.
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Infographic: Real assetsAllocations to real assets can play different roles in investment strategy design. Find out the characteristics, types and risk/return factors of real assets.
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Allocating to real assetsFind out how the characteristics of real assets can enhance your investment strategy.
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Building a real asset portfolioContinuing uncertainty with equity markets and rising interest rates strengthen the case for allocations to real assets in your portfolio.
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The role of listed real assetsLearn how listed real assets can contribute to portfolio diversification when an investor is faced with liquidity constraints.
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2019 market volatility: Risks and opportunities updateWe evaluate the global events that led to a major sell-off in 2018’s fourth quarter and provide recommendations to navigate more turbulence ahead.
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The ABC of ESG – A new perspective on business responsibilityResponsible investment can have a material impact on financial performance and is more likely to lead to sustainable investment outcomes.
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Making sense of multi-asset investment strategiesMulti-Asset investments continue to be popular choice within portfolios. Understanding of the diversification strategies become more important than ever.
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Are active small cap equities the way to diversify?Explore our investment research into how to diversify your portfolio and potentially increase your returns.
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10 years after the global financial crisis: 10 lessons from 2008With the 10th anniversary of the collapse of Lehman Brothers upon us, it is instructive to look back and ask what we've learned from living through these events.
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Cyber security: A growing operational risk in the investment management industryCyberattacks are becoming more frequent and have a more significant impact, while the targets of these attacks are becoming more high profile.
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Themes and opportunities 2019These four themes impacting the global economy rise above the day-to-day developments affecting investment decisions. Discover which trends to tune your strategy.
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Economic and market outlook 2019 and beyondWhat will 2019 bring for the global economy? Find out what Mercer experts say about the slight weakening they are expecting to see.
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Inflation awareness understanding inflation and its impact on your portfolioLearn more on how to build a clear assessment of your inflation needs, and review the risks and extent of exposure to inflation within your portfolios.
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What’s your approach to benchmark-agnostic fixed income strategies?Deciding which benchmark-agnostic fixed income strategies to pursue is complex. Here’s how can you identify strategies that best fit your investment objectives.
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4 Themes that will shape global investment opportunities in 2018Read more about the forces that will shape the global investment opportunities in the upcoming months.
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Mercer’s global outlook 2018 shares 3 key insightsLearn more about global economic outlook, investment roadblocks and risks that you might want to consider in 2018.
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The case for the gold investment: Safe haven or volatile commodity?Gold has been attracting more attention from the investors in recent times. Learn more about cases for and against gold investment.
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Looking to de-risk and diversify? Consider a multi asset credit strategyAre you new to multi asset credit? Consider alternative ways to shape your investment strategy today.
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Is it time to reconsider your investment strategy?The case for bonds, equities and investment risk management.
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Are passive managers being active enough?Explore how passive managers can be active collaborators and stock owners with latest research.
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