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Multi-asset portfolio allocation

02 February 2024

Julien Lafargue, London UK, Chief Market Strategist

Barclays Private Bank discusses asset allocation views within the context of a multi-asset class portfolio. Our views elsewhere in the publication are absolute and within the context of each asset class.

Multi-asset portfolio allocation.

Cash and short duration bonds 

  • Given the heightened level of uncertainty in financial markets, and to manage portfolio risks, we prefer higher-quality and liquid opportunities

Fixed income 

  • More opportunities are popping up in fixed income 
  • We see value in developed market government bonds and as a hedge against macro volatility
  • In credit, the higher-quality segment is preferred driven by what we consider to be better relative value
  • In high yield, where selection is key, our exposure is relatively low, as spreads have room to widen in an adverse scenario
  • We are cautious on the emerging market segment

Equities 

  • Equities still appear relatively more appealing than bonds for long-term investors
  • Yet, we are highly selective in our allocation 
  • In line with our long-term investment philosophy, portfolios remain geared towards high-quality, cash-generative and conservatively capitalised businesses 
  • As a function of bottom-up selection, more opportunities are seen in developed market equities compared to their emerging market ones

Alternative trading strategies (ATS) 

  • There are a limited number of opportunities in the ATS space, as the cost/benefit trade-off can be challenging 
  • Our focus is on strategies that offer diversification benefits due to their low correlation to equity markets

Commodities 

  • As a risk-mitigating asset, gold remains the only direct commodity exposure held in portfolios 
  • From a portfolio management perspective, we believe that our risk budget is better spent outside of the asset class
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