Introducing the Invesco Emerging Markets Local Debt Fund
Target income generation and long-term growth, while gaining exposure to the diversification benefits and relative yield enhancement offered by emerging markets.
See all strategy detailsSeeking yield opportunities in emerging markets
Historically, emerging market local bonds have provided attractive relative yields and access to strong developing market sovereign balance sheets. We harness manager skill, attempting to outperform the market while simultaneously minimising the downside risk associated with this asset class.
Global macro strategy
At its core, the investment approach is a global macro strategy with discretionary elements.
80+ countries covered in depth
To generate alpha, we believe it is critical to understand the nuances of each of the emerging market countries that we invest in.
Risk mitigation
We normally do not take more risk than the long-term volatility of the underlying benchmark.
Why this fund?
No market or region can be viewed in isolation. Issues like trade and international relations must be taken into consideration. That’s why we combine top-down macro analysis with bottom-up country research.
We develop our macroeconomic outlook and incorporate the robust linkages between developed and emerging market economies to better inform our global perspective.
We then allocate risk based on this macroeconomic outlook over a 9-18 month investment horizon across interest rates and foreign currencies.
We believe that, given the relative volatility of the asset class, an asymmetric approach to risk management and budgeting can provide investors with an overall smoother investment experience over time.
We look to reduce volatility throughout the emerging market cycle. As such, on an ex-ante basis, we do not allocate more risk (volatility) than that of the reference benchmark while deploying the following loss-mitigation strategy:
- Maintaining a low tracking error and high volatility in risk-on periods.
- Maintaining a high tracking error and low volatility in risk-off periods.
As fiduciaries, we incorporate ESG factors into the investment process, because we believe it is an important risk management tool in emerging markets.
To better understand ESG factors, we employ a qualitative and quantitative framework, carry out research trips, and engage directly with local experts. These include policymakers, senior government officials, central bank representatives, state administrators, politicians, non-governmental organisations, and private sector representatives.
Position sizing is adjusted taking ESG factors into consideration, assuming financial metrics and valuations support the stated investment thesis.
ESG risks are also considered and actively managed, and the strategy is classified as Article 8 under the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR).
Access the Invesco Emerging Markets Local Debt Fund strategy page to view KIDs/KIIDs and factsheets. The investment concerns the acquisition of units in an actively managed strategy and not in a given underlying asset.
Any investment decision should take into account all the characteristics of the startegy as described in the legal documents. For sustainability related aspects, please refer to https://www.invescomanagementcompany.lu.
Meet the team
Hemant Baijal and Wim Vandenhoeck are responsible for managing the strategy. They are members of our Global Debt Team, based in New York. The team’s eleven investment professionals come from a diverse range of international backgrounds, with fluency in nearly 15 languages and a wealth of experience, with an average 23 years of investment experience and eleven years with Invesco.
We believe that emerging markets local currency debt features differentiated alpha and income generation potential with meaningful client strategy diversification benefits.
FAQs
We see a favorable backdrop for emerging market local debt, as continued monetary easing by the US Federal Reserve enables further easing by emerging market central banks, in turn boosting their domestic growth. Nominal and real interest rates have remained elevated in emerging markets, while disinflation has generally continued – offering attractive interest rate differentials versus developed markets.
In addition, diverging growth and inflation dynamics across individual countries offer compelling total return opportunities. We remain focused on countries with higher nominal growth, such as India and Malaysia, which have experienced significant economic growth due to higher export activity and resilient domestic spending. The biggest opportunity we see is in the normalization of yield curves globally.
While key risks include volatility around US policy uncertainty and potential currency impacts, this is amidst a positive external environment of loosening monetary policy globally, the prospect of additional stimulus from China, and lower oil prices. Overall, we see a promising opportunity set ripe for generating alpha.
Emerging market debt is fixed income debt that is issued by countries with developing economies as well as by corporations within those nations, issued in either a local or hard currency.
Local currency bonds are debt securities issued by sovereigns or corporates in their local currency. The return drivers come from local yields, capital appreciation (changes in yield curve or credit standing) and FX. Since countries can be at different stages in the economic cycle, interest rates and returns can be uncorrelated to those in developed markets. Given continued growth, local currency bonds tend to be more liquid than hard currency bonds and the list of markets with investible/liquid local bond markets that are accessible to foreign investors continues to increase.
Hard currency bonds are debt securities issued by sovereigns or corporates in other currencies – usually in a developed market currency, such as the USD or euro. Many lower income, weaker developing countries, “frontier markets” are incentivized to issue in hard currency to attract foreign investment (perceived as less risky if issued as a USD or euro asset) versus issuing in their local currency.
Investing in emerging market local currency debt offers:
- Higher Yields: Generally higher income than developed market bonds.
- Diversification: Lower correlation with other asset classes.
- Currency Gains: Potential for currency appreciation.
- Inflation Hedge: Bonds may be inflation-linked and adjust accordingly.
- Growth Exposure: Access to the attractive growth dynamics typically associated with emerging economies.
However, be aware of higher risks like currency volatility and political uncertainty. Active management is key.
Explore the team's latest insights
Fixed Income Emerging market local debt | Monthly macro insights
Each month, our experts share their views on the emerging market (EM) local debt asset class. Read their outlook and discover which markets they believe are presenting the most attractive opportunities.
April 9, 2025
Fixed Income Monthly fixed income ETF update
Bond markets struggled in March, primarily due to concerns about the potential impact of upcoming US policies. Read our latest thoughts on how fixed income markets fared during the month and what we think you should be looking out for in the near term.
April 7, 2025
Fixed Income Global Fixed Income Strategy Monthly Report
In our regularly updated macroeconomic analysis we offer an outlook for interest rates and currencies – and look at which fixed income assets are favoured across a range of market environments.
March 31, 2025
Important Information
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Data as at 28.02.2025, unless otherwise stated.
This is marketing material and not financial advice. It is not intended as a recommendation to buy or sell any particular asset class, security or strategy. Regulatory requirements that require impartiality of investment/investment strategy recommendations are therefore not applicable nor are any prohibitions to trade before publication.
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