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Fixed Income
Navigating different market conditions requires a flexible approach

Capital Group Multi-Sector Income Fund (LUX) takes an active, dynamic approach to asset allocation with a view to capturing relative value across sectors


It seems a long time since investors faced what could be considered a ‘normal’ market environment. The past several years have delivered the full gamut of policy and market conditions.


For almost a decade following the global financial crisis in 2008, investors faced record-low interest rate levels as central banks retained a very loose monetary policy stance. 


Just as central banks began the process of normalising interest rates from their very low levels, the Covid pandemic hit. This not only prompted looser monetary policy from central banks globally, but also saw co-ordinated fiscal easing as governments around the world tried to support their domestic economies.


Not two years later, sharp increases in inflation triggered another shift in policy with central banks hiking rates in an attempt to rein it in.


Against a shifting economic and policy backdrop, how can investors navigate different credit sectors to capture relative value and drive consistent income generation?


A key characteristic of Capital Group Multi-Sector Income Fund (LUX) (MSI, launched in November 2022) is its flexibility to adjust asset allocation across four key credit sectors depending on market conditions.1 The fund follows the philosophy, process and has the same investment team as a multi-sector fixed income strategy from the US we have managed since 2019.


Flexibility around sector allocations has allowed the portfolio to increase exposure to areas that stood to benefit from macro tailwinds, such as an increased allocation to US high yield in 2020 when coordinated global central bank intervention prompted a ‘risk on’ sentiment in markets. Similarly in 2022, exposure to cash and investment-grade credit was increased in response to policy tightening measures. At the same time, high yield exposure was reduced to defend against spread widening.


The graphic below shows how its sector allocation has shifted over the past three years.


Flexible sector allocation in action

Capital Group Multi-Sector Income strategy historical portfolio composition (%)

Historical portfolio composition

Data as at 31 December 2022 for a representative account of the strategy. Cash & equivalents includes short-term securities, accrued income and other assets less liabilities. It may also include investments in money market or similar funds managed by the investment adviser or its affiliates that are not offered to the public. Sources: Bloomberg, Capital Group

To read more on the process behind tilting the portfolio’s sector allocation download the full paper.


1. The managers have the option to invest in other areas in an opportunistic way if they identify particularly attractive opportunities, but this typically remains a small part of the overall allocation. This may include, but is not limited to, US government debt, municipal debt and non-corporate credit, in response to market conditions.


 


Risk factors you should consider before investing:

  • This material is not intended to provide investment advice or be considered a personal recommendation.
  • The value of investments and income from them can go down as well as up and you may lose some or all of your initial investment.
  • Past results are not a guide to future results.
  • The Prospectus – together with any locally-required offering documentation – sets out risks, which, depending on the fund, may include risks associated with investing in fixed income, derivatives, emerging markets and/or high-yield securities; emerging markets are volatile and may suffer from liquidity problems.
  • The fund may invest in financial derivative instruments for investment purposes, hedging and/or efficient portfolio management.


This material is intended for the internal and confidential use of the recipient and not for onward transmission to any other third party. This communication is issued by Capital International Management Company Sàrl (CIMC), unless otherwise stated, which is regulated by the Luxembourg CSSF - Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier.

In Singapore, this communication has been prepared by Capital Group Investment Management Pte. Ltd. (CGIMPL), a member of Capital Group, a company incorporated in Singapore. This advertisement or publication has not been reviewed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore or any other regulator.

This communication is of a general nature, and not intended to provide investment, tax or other advice, or to be a solicitation to buy or sell any securities. All information is as at the date indicated and attributed to Capital Group unless otherwise stated. While Capital Group uses reasonable efforts to obtain information from third-party sources which it believes to be accurate, this cannot be guaranteed.

CIMC manages the Luxembourg based UCITS fund(s), organised as a SICAV, which is a (are) sub-fund(s) of Capital International Fund ("CIF"). The fund(s) is (are) offered only by Prospectus, together with any locally-required offering documentation. In Europe, this is the UCITS Key Investor Information Document (KIID)/PRIIPs Key Information Document (KID) and in Singapore the Product Highlights Sheet (PHS). These documents are available free of charge and in English at capitalgroup.com, and should be read carefully before investing.

Investors acquire shares of the fund, not the underlying assets.

The material is not intended to be distributed or used by persons in jurisdictions which prohibit its distribution. If you act as representative of a client it is your responsibility to ensure that the offering or sale of fund shares complies with relevant local laws and regulations.

For Italy: A full list of Paying Agents and Distributors is located on the website stated.

For Singapore: CGIMPL is the appointed Singapore Representative of the Fund.

For Spain: A list of distributors is located at CNMV.es. CIF is registered with the Comisión Nacional del Mercado de Valores (‘CNMV’) under the number 983.

For Switzerland: The Representative in Switzerland: Capital International Sàrl, 3 place des Bergues, 1201 Genève. Paying agent in Switzerland for CIF: JPMorgan (Suisse) SA, 8 rue de la Confédération, 1204 Genève.

For UK: Compensation will not be available under the UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

The list of countries where the Fund is registered for distribution can be obtained at all times from CIMC or online at www.capitalgroup.com

In Europe, facilities to investors (tasks according to Article 92 of the Directive 2019/1160, points b) to f)), are available at www.eifs.lu/CapitalGroup

A summary of Fund Shareholder Rights is available in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish at https://www.capitalgroup.com/eu/investor-rights/

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Past results are not a guarantee of future results. The value of investments and income from them can go down as well as up and you may lose some or all of your initial investment. This information is not intended to provide investment, tax or other advice, or to be a solicitation to buy or sell any securities.

Statements attributed to an individual represent the opinions of that individual as of the date published and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Capital Group or its affiliates. All information is as at the date indicated unless otherwise stated. Some information may have been obtained from third parties, and as such the reliability of that information is not guaranteed.