The fallout in fixed income markets following the departure of Bill Gross from “mega manager” PIMCO has added a new dimension to the challenges facing fixed income investors. The bond market's concerns of the last few weeks are noteworthy, and mostly justified, but should also be viewed as an opportunity to reflect on portfolio strategy, liquidity risk and firm risk.

Those who were hoping for a shift in tone from the Federal Reserve regarding an imminent rate hike, encouraged by increasing signs of a recovery in the US, will be disappointed. The Fed has reiterated its concerns over the dynamics of the economy.

Normalisation of monetary policy in the West is the most significant challenge facing markets after an unprecedented period of low interest rates. Given the levels of debt, the process will necessarily take a long time and the repercussions on the rest of the global economy still remain unclear, according to Miles Geldard, manager of the Jupiter Strategic Total Return SICAV fund at Jupiter Asset Management.

After ten years of strong growth, the Indonesian economy is slowing considerably. This is because of the falling Chinese demand for commodities, the gradual normalisation of US monetary policy and an inevitable decline in government expenditure.

An ageing global population, a thirst for credit in emerging markets and an ever more complex regulatory environment for Western banks are reshaping the opportunities open to investors in the financials sector, according to Robert Mumby, manager of the Jupiter International Financials Fund.