Portfolio manager comments — Q1 2025
Q1 2025 was marked by high volatility in the global financial markets. Donald Trump took office as president in January and has caused stock market sentiment to decline after strong performance in 2024 due to his actions and rhetoric regarding threats of tariffs. US interest rates will also fall as the financial markets interpret this as detrimental to growth.
Performance in Europe was completely different. After Germany held new elections in February, the newly elected chancellor Friedrich Merz launched a historically massive support package targeting defense and infrastructure investments. Given that this would result in higher growth and increased debt, long-term rates rose sharply in Europe. The German 10-year yield showed its largest one-day upturn since the 1990s, with a movement of almost 30 bps. This sharp upturn in rates had a negative impact on the fund’s absolute returns and led to a decline of almost 2%.
However, a portion of the interest rate fluctuation was reversed toward the end of the quarter as the same growth concerns that characterized the US also took hold in Europe. The fund was positioned for lower medium-term rates as well as steeper yield curves.
The initial fluctuation in German bonds had a negative impact on returns but the portfolio construction was good and the fund recovered the loss and then some in the subsequent yield movement. The fund closed the quarter with positive results relative to the index.*
* The fund’s benchmark index is Solactive Eurozone Government Bond Index.