Perspectives

The creation of a universe that blends our lives online and off will change the way we live, work and play. It also has real-world implications for investors and the planet.

Despite a decade or so of disappointing performance, value’s recent uptick merits examination into what drove its performance historically, and if conditions have changed or if the factor needs to be redefined.

Interest in private assets is on the rise, with new participants and new approaches by existing investors expanding and shifting the role private assets play in multi-asset class portfolios. We shine some light on these historically opaque investments.

We host a frank discussion on the state of diversity, inclusion and equality within the investment industry with CalPERS' Simiso Nzima, Michael Barrington-Hibbert, founder of Barrington Hibbert Associates and co-founder of #10000BlackInterns, MSCI’s Head of Index and Chief Responsibility Officer, Diana Tidd and Head of Analytics and Chair of MSCI’s Executive Diversity Council, Jorge Mina.

Pension funds, endowments and other asset owners hold tremendous sway over the entire investment ecosystem. Baer Pettit and Roger Urwin break down the issues holding the attention of these large, global investors.

The investment risks around climate change can be quantified and standardized. We get on the road to COP 26, discussing real solutions with Robert Eccles of the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford and MSCI’s Head of ESG Research, Linda-Eling Lee, at the wheel.

China is known as the world’s factory: Good at assembly, great for improving scale. But high-tech breakthroughs? Our guests, including Nina Xiang of the Chinese Money Network, work to sort truth from fiction.

Did factor performance at the end of 2020 suggest investor optimism in 2021? We explore the question based on the historical relationship between factors and the economic cycle?

Peter Zangari, MSCI's head of research and product development, provides his perspective on where investors were back in March, their current concerns and some words of wisdom as we get ready to turn the page on 2020.

Our journey through the world of global investing continues with a look at the increasingly global focus of fixed-income investors and their search for yield. Next stop: China.