Portfolio manager comments — Q2 2025
Fund performance was positive during the quarter and rose by 2,8% in SEK. The second quarter of the year was marked by high volatility due to increased economic and political uncertainty following the US administration’s dramatic shift in trade policy.
Global interest rates generally declined, with the exception of US long-term rates, which rose due to a higher risk premium. The movement was driven by technical factors, speculation about reduced foreign demand, increased uncertainty around inflation developments, and concerns about a growing budget deficit following Moody’s downgrade of the US credit rating.
Central banks continued to cut policy rates: the European Central Bank (ECB) lowered rates by a total of 50 basis points and the Riksbank by 25 basis points, while the US Federal Reserve (Fed) kept rates unchanged.
The fund remained positioned for longer maturities in the 1–5 year segment, in line with our forecast of upcoming rate cuts due to slowing growth and a weakening labor market. This strategic positioning, along with the fund’s exposure to steeper yield curves in the US, Europe and Sweden, contributed positively to performance during the quarter.
The fund’s overweight in Swedish covered mortgage bonds, sustainable green bonds issued by Swedish municipalities, and bonds from supranational institutions such as the European Investment Bank also contributed positively to relative returns.