The EPFR Exchange Podcast

Join us for an exclusive conversation with industry leaders Jay McLaughlin from iMoneyNet, and guest expert Tim Schiltz from Schwab Asset Management.  Dive deeper into what has by some measures been a banner year for US liquidity funds, especially if inflows are your key measure of success. The group of US Money Market Funds tracked by EPFR have seen inflows this year climb past $1 trillion total, a record by far. iMoneyNet leader Jay McLaughlin highlights how assets and yields have been performing quite well over the past 18 months, especially when looking at the all taxable average - the most commonly used benchmark for iMoneyNet - from a yield perspective.However, this only tells part of what is – more than ever – a complicated story. To a degree, Money Market Funds gain is pain for US regional banks as their deposit bases migrate. Those expanding asset bases are also keeping the industry in the forefront of regulatory minds, with another suite of reforms - the third in the last decade - currently on the drawing board. Conversation led/guided by EPFR research analyst Kirsten Longbottom.If you have a question about this episode, want to request a demo of our data, or talk to an EPFR expert today... Contact us now!

China clearly holds the crown among Emerging Market Equity markets when it comes to attracting fund flows this year. In the struggling Developed Market universe, meanwhile, Japan is breaking free of the pack. Japan Equity Funds have recorded inflows 11 of the past 12 weeks, and Japan Dividend and ESG Funds have done even better with flows to the former picking up significantly in mid-March and those to Japan ESG Funds lofting off at the start of February.  Yet, the lag in response to increasingly rosy market conditions and the minimal changes that Global and Global ex-US Funds have made to their Japanese exposure, hints at a degree of skepticism.In this episode, Research Associate Kirsten Longbottom and Director of Research Cameron Brandt invite Pictet Asset Management's Senior Portfolio Manager Jon Withaar to discuss these themes and trends.We look back at 2015 when the corporate governance code was introduced, discuss the current, relatively cheap valuations of Japanese assets, explore what bad inflation looks like for Japan, examine the linkages between Japan and China in the long term, ask where the Bank of Japan will go from here and delve into the benefits of a weak Yen versus strong Dollar.More from EPFR on Japan:Aug 6, 2023 Quants Corner: An unusual visitor comes knocking on Japan’s door. Did it RSVP?Jan 27, 2023 Off the Wire: Japan government bonds: Is there a coming outflow?Feb 3, 2022 Paper: A rising tide lifts some (Japanese) boats: The Bank of Japan’s ETF purchases and their impact on market signals for individual stocksIf you have a question about this episode, want to request a demo of our data, or talk to an EPFR expert today... Contact us now!

Investors have viewed Emerging Markets with a "glass half full" approach so far this year despite alarming headwinds for key actors. EM Equity Funds have brought in money this year while their Developed Markets counterparts have seen outflows. Kirsten Longbottom and Cameron Brandt from EPFR discussed key themes and shifts taking place in Emerging Markets with R Burns McKinney, managing director and senior portfolio manager/analyst at NFJ Investment Group. From the growth story and strong sector flows in China to the production of metals in Latin America to the expectation of India to break free of the pack, we cover it all. If you have a question about this episode, want to request a demo of our data, or talk to an EPFR expert today... Contact us now!

To kickoff our relaunch – twice monthly episodes where we feature an expert guest and focus in on specific themes or trends – integral members of our research team, Kirsten Longbottom and Cameron Brandt, invited Domestic Equities Portfolio Manager and the Head of ESG Strategy at Trillium Asset Management, Elizabeth Levy to join us on the EPFR Exchange and talk all things ESG. From a theme often referred to as “pixie dust” for fund flows to a changing dynamic in the last 18 months, from a lack of understanding among investors to a lack of clarity from the investment products themselves, from the environmental aspect to the social side, from energy to clean tech, this episode helps give perspective of the everchanging and overgrowing SRI & ESG equity universe. Listen in and email us at podcast@epfr.com with questions, or if you want a peak in to the Fund Flows & Allocations data we track.If you have a question about this episode, want to request a demo of our data, or talk to an EPFR expert today... Contact us now!

Cam and Kirsten explore how funds saw moderate outflows and fixed-income assets saw inflows mid-July despite an unsettling and frequently alarming backdrop for markets. We also discuss the high possibility of an aggressive rate hike by the Federal Reserve, the significance of EPFR-tracked collective investment trusts (CITs), and investors gravitating toward defensive Sector Fund groups. If you have a question about this episode, want to request a demo of our data, or talk to an EPFR expert today... Contact us now!

Cameron and Kirsten recap major themes in the first half of 2022 and what to expect for the third quarter. The momentum of inflows should continue for Dividend Equity Funds in 2H, flows for SRI-ESG Funds although choppy are more positive than not, while interest remains in Latin America despite political influences and for Asian markets. We also discuss the latest week of fund flows with investors showing interest in Money Market Funds and Bond Funds, while also diving deeper into Emerging Markets. If you have a question about this episode, want to request a demo of our data, or talk to an EPFR expert today... Contact us now!

This week, Cam and Kirsten talk about a not-so-ideal investment climate driven by global rate hikes coupled with fears of recession and slowing growth. We also highlight cryptocurrency funds, the shaping up of the energy picture and what that means for SRI and ESG Funds, the emerging markets universe, and the degree of capitulation among investors to the current dynamic. If you have a question about this episode, want to request a demo of our data, or talk to an EPFR expert today... Contact us now!

Kirsten and Cam discuss a week were the US Federal reserve raised interest rates by 75 basis points while the ECB, which is walking a different inflationary tightrope,  held an emergency meeting. Going into the third week of June flows for both Developed and Emerging Markets where anchored by the biggest single markets, US and China, respectively, while dividends and infrastructure remained beacons of hope for many investors. Join us to hear more on the investment landscape and the strong defensive flavor for sector fund flows with insight on Utilities, Financial and Technology Sector Funds. If you have a question about this episode, want to request a demo of our data, or talk to an EPFR expert today... Contact us now!

Cam and Kirsten discuss a week when investors recovered appetite for exposure to US assets despite various headwinds still in the mix. Among drivers was a shift in the consensus on what decisions will be made by the Federal Reserve, in terms of the aggressiveness of rate hikes, which helped US Equity Funds post a significant inflow.  More insight included on the value seen in the Chinese market, the connection between Silver and Industrial Sector Funds, and the ECB & Europe Bond Funds. If you have a question about this episode, want to request a demo of our data, or talk to an EPFR expert today... Contact us now!

Cameron and Kirsten discuss the past two weeks of the global financial landscape, one that has been marked by a broad loss of confidence from investors. We break down the latest trends in Bond and Equity SRI-ESG Funds, groups among Emerging Markets benefiting from oil plays, and heightened commitment to Infrastructure Sector Funds despite outflows for a majority of sector groups. If you have a question about this episode, want to request a demo of our data, or talk to an EPFR expert today... Contact us now!

As the Russia-Ukraine conflict entered its 12th week, the US Fed Reserve hiked rates by 50 basis points, while the Bank of England hiked rates for the fourth straight time. But flows neither hummed with conviction nor fear, according to EPFR-tracked weekly fund flow data (as reported May 4), as investors took on defensive positions. The week saw bigger outflows for Alternative Funds, Real Estate, and Financial Sector Funds, and Europe Equity and Bond Funds. Emerging Markets Bond Funds also had another tough week regarding outflows.In this episode, Cam provides some insight from a recent trip to New York, meeting with LatAm Pension Fund managers & professionals If you have a question about this episode, want to request a demo of our data, or talk to an EPFR expert today... Contact us now!

After a mixed week on multiple fronts – earnings, Ukraine, interest rates and Covid – it was China Equity and Global Sector Fund that stood out. Despite the growing costs imposed by the country’s zero-Covid strategy, China Equity Funds continued to attract inflows, while nine of the 11 major Sector Fund groups recorded inflows. Join our EPFR Exchange co-hosts, Cam and Kirsten as they  discuss the latest movements and pockets of conviction in EPFR’s fund flow data. If you have a question about this episode, want to request a demo of our data, or talk to an EPFR expert today... Contact us now!

As investors sought the best line between risk and reward again this week, flows into Bond, Equity and Money Markets Funds all felt the pressure. This was particularly true of those with US mandates. For Emerging Markets, three country fund groups were in the spotlight this week – China, Taiwan (POC), and Brazil Equity Funds. Kicking off this week of the earnings season were several financial heavyweights; Tech plays will feature more in the upcoming week. Tune in for a deep dive on these topics.If you have a question about this episode, want to request a demo of our data, or talk to an EPFR expert today... Contact us now!

Director of Research, Cameron Brandt and Host, Kirsten Longbottom dive into the short-term impact from the Russia-Ukraine conflict on energy prices and how investors are viewing the war as a Europe-based issue as opposed to a global one. In the final week of March investors quickly returned to China Equity Funds, but the risks surrounding this asset class have been building up for a while. More on the Sector Fund universe and Bond Funds which ended an 11-week outflow streak. If you have a question about this episode, want to request a demo of our data, or talk to an EPFR expert today... Contact us now!

This week, Cam and Kirsten delve into the abrupt change in the direction of flows for dedicated China funds seen during the week to March 23. China Equity and Bond Funds both experienced heavy redemptions as concerns about China’s Covid containment strategy, the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the fallout from its ongoing regulatory crackdown weighed on previously resilient investor sentiment. Investors continue to show interest in alternative resource stories and the Sector Fund universe. Cam shares his insight on various Sector groups and how they have been reacting to the ongoing narratives playing out in the market. If you have a question about this episode, want to request a demo of our data, or talk to an EPFR expert today... Contact us now!

This week, Cam and Kirsten discuss the headwinds building up as we near the end of 1Q22: the Russia-Ukraine conflict now its fourth week, the resurgence of Covid in key markets including Korea and China, high energy prices, and the US Fed Reserve's 25-basis points rate hike. Listen in for insight on how investors reacted during the week to March 16.If you have a question about this episode, want to request a demo of our data, or talk to an EPFR expert today... Contact us now!

Everything is on the table. Cameron and Kirsten provide an update on the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on the current market. The European market was hit hard the last two weeks, while US Equity and Bonds managed to record inflows despite inflationary pressures. More on how investors shifted their focus to Greater China, alternative funds, and the sector universe.  If you have a question about this episode, want to request a demo of our data, or talk to an EPFR expert today... Contact us now!

Cameron Brandt and Kirsten Longbottom discuss the latest economic headlines and how we are seeing investors react through EPFR Fund Flows and Allocations data. Russia storming into Ukraine could create a ripple effect across other countries and affect energy stories as prices push higher, global supply chain of oil and natural gas, and financial markets. Certainty and momentum behind funds with SRI and ESG mandates has diminished recently as various threats weigh in. Finally, investors are looking for safer assets as the Fed plans to tighten monetary policy in less than two weeks. If you have a question about this episode, want to request a demo of our data, or talk to an EPFR expert today... Contact us now!

This week, Cam and Kirsten explore what’s going on with flows into Equity funds, which have pulled in $152 billion YTD, and Bonds Funds which have seen over $30 billion redeemed. How is the anticipation of the Fed and other central banks’ talk on tightening affecting investors’ decisions here? Rivers of money flow into US Equity Funds, China dominates the EM space while less interest is shown towards smaller regional Asian markets, and geopolitical risk sap appetite for Russia Equity Funds. If you have a question about this episode, want to request a demo of our data, or talk to an EPFR expert today... Contact us now!

This week, Cameron and Kirsten discuss the in-the-dentists-chair sense of anticipation about likely US rate hikes and the impact of the ECB’s change of tone regarding inflation. They also look at the mixed earnings reports from US technology and automotive majors and the effect those reports had on the universe of sector fund groups. Rounding off the podcast, they look at trends in both emerging markets equity and bond markets and China’s current role as a safe-haven play.If you have a question about this episode, want to request a demo of our data, or talk to an EPFR expert today... Contact us now!