Investing in High Yield Bonds

High yield investing has the potential to offer risk-aware investors an attractive source of income.

Our expertise

At AXA IM, we have experienced, dedicated high yield teams that have been managing portfolios through multiple economic and credit cycles.

The teams are positioned globally across US, Europe and Asia, providing resources to meet the needs of a large, global client base.

The investment teams employ a consistent investment process which has been tested over a range of market cycles and conditions. This process is centred on the philosophy that the key to superior long-term returns in the fixed income market is compounding current income and avoiding principal loss through fundamental credit analysis and macroeconomic research.

Our strategies

AXA IM offers a range of high yield strategies investing within and across regions, sectors and maturities.

Our strategies all follow a robust bottom-up credit research process that focuses on identifying companies with improving credit trends, while the top-down component seeks to identify risks and opportunities associated with the overall economy and market.

In this way we aim to minimise default risk and manage volatility through active management, while pursuing high yielding opportunities and potentially generating capital growth

Why invest in high yield bonds?

High yield bonds offer a number of potential benefits, alongside some specific risks such as higher volatility and higher default rates. For those in a position to take on higher levels of credit risk, high yield bonds may provide a significant yield enhancement to a well-diversified portfolio.

1.
Higher yield and diversification

In addition to higher income than investment grade bonds, high yield often behaves differently to other areas of the fixed income universe so may provide important diversification to a broader fixed income portfolio.

2.
Equity-like return with lower volatility

Like equities, high yield bond prices can increase as a result of improved performance of the issuing company or a wider economic upturn. However, the typically higher income component of high yield bonds means that they are generally less volatile than equities.

3.
Lower duration

High yield bonds are typically issued with shorter maturities than many investment grade bonds (generally less than 10 years) and, therefore, tend to have relatively lower duration. This means a high yield strategy may be less exposed to interest rate risk than most investment grade strategies.

Related Articles

Fixed Income

Trump 2.0: déjà vu? Why investors should consider hedging inflation risk

Fixed Income

What the geopolitical changes mean for fixed income

Fixed Income

Where are we seeing opportunities in this environment?

Fixed income

Discover more about fixed income investing

Explore more

Risks

No assurance can be given that our investment strategies will be successful. Investors can lose some or all of their capital invested. Our high yield strategies are subject to risks including, but not limited to:  liquidity risk, credit risk, counterparty risk and the impact of any techniques such as derivatives. The use of such strategies may also involve leverage, which may increase the effect of market movements and may result in significant risk of losses.

    Disclaimer

    This website is published by AXA Investment Managers Asia (Singapore) Ltd. (Registration No. 199001714W) for general circulation and informational purposes only. It does not constitute investment research or financial analysis relating to transactions in financial instruments, nor does it constitute on the part of AXA Investment Managers or its affiliated companies an offer to buy or sell any investments, products or services, and should not be considered as solicitation or investment, legal or tax advice, a recommendation for an investment strategy or a personalized recommendation to buy or sell securities. It has been prepared without taking into account the specific personal circumstances, investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs of any particular person and may be subject to change without notice. Please consult your financial or other professional advisers before making any investment decision.

    Due to its simplification, this publication is partial and opinions, estimates and forecasts herein are subjective and subject to change without notice. There is no guarantee forecasts made will come to pass. Data, figures, declarations, analysis, predictions and other information in this publication is provided based on our state of knowledge at the time of creation of this publication. Whilst every care is taken, no representation or warranty (including liability towards third parties), express or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability or completeness of the information contained herein. Reliance upon information in this material is at the sole discretion of the recipient. This material does not contain sufficient information to support an investment decision.

    All investment involves risk, including the loss of capital. The value of investments and the income from them can fluctuate and investors may not get back the amount originally invested. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future performance.

    Some of the Services and/or products may not be available for offer to retail investors.

    This publication has not been reviewed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.