Fixed income

Dynamic Allocation. Absolute Flexibility.

In a year full of surprises, absolute return fixed income strategies have provided a much-needed portfolio cushion. With uncertainty set to continue, we look at how this approach can help investors stay on track with their goals.

2026: Anything
but simple

While we continue to weigh the impact of evolving tariffs on the global economy, market volatility is likely to remain heightened. The recent de-escalation in the trade war between China and the US has provided some relief; however, even the lower levels of tariffs look unlikely to alleviate slowing US growth this year. Moreover, tariffs have added complications to the policy environment by boosting US inflation, leaving the US Federal Reserve between a rock and a hard place. Add geopolitical tensions to the picture and 2026 is looking like to be a continuation of last year.

A solution for uncertainty

Global Absolute Return Bond seeks to capture attractive risk-adjusted opportunities across global fixed income markets while smoothing the path of returns.

Source: BNP Paribas Asset Management as of January 2026. Any views expressed here are those of the author as of the date of publication, based on available information, and subject to change without notice. This material does not constitute investment advice. No information given or any term used herein shall be interpreted to provide such a guarantee or protection. Past performance and any economic and market trends are not indicative of future performance.

1. Flexible and dynamic approach

The strategy dynamically allocates across different regions, sectors, securities, tenors, yield curves, and currencies in accordance with the investment team’s views. This could help to improve diversification, limit drawdowns and deliver positive returns regardless of market conditions.

2. Enhanced risk-return profile

With its flexible approach and ability to invest in relative value positions, the strategy aims to deliver low correlations to traditional fixed income segments, such as global high yield. The strategy may, therefore, help to improve the overall risk-return profile of a diversified portfolio.

3. Focus on minimising capital loss

The team places considerable emphasis on portfolio construction and works closely with their dedicated front office risk analyst. The result is a globally diversified strategy with multiple return streams that seeks to perform well across the team’s base case as well as a range of other market scenarios.

Meet the team

Our global absolute return bond strategy is actively managed by James McAlevey, Head of Global Aggregate and Absolute Return. Based in London, James has more than 26 years’ investment experience across multi-strategy fixed income and interest rates portfolios.¹

James and the Absolute Return team are part of BNP Paribas’ Global Fixed Income investment group.² They collaborate with the investment group’s various teams to generate the best ideas across an unconstrained multi-sector fixed income universe. They also benefit from access to firmwide resources including our dedicated Sustainability Centre, Quantitative Research Group and Macro Research team.

  • James McAlevey

    Head of Global Aggregate and Absolute Return

  • Jayesh Mistry

    Senior Portfolio Manager

  • Gaetan Fenerol

    Gaetan Fenerol

    Portfolio Manager

  • Jamie Irvine

    Portfolio Manager

  • Heyuan Qian

    Heyuan Qian

    Junior Portfolio Manager

  • Vicky Browne

    Vicky Brown

    Investment Specialist, Global Aggregate & Absolute Return

Global Absolute Return Bond

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[1,2] BNP Paribas Asset Management, as of 31 January 2026

Important information

Marketing communication.
The information provided here is for advertising purpose. It shall not constitute legal, financial or tax advice, nor is it an offer or recommendation for the purchase or sale of financial instruments. 

Past performance or achievement is not indicative of current or future performance.

Any views expressed here are those of the author as of the date of publication, based on available information, and subject to change without notice. This material does not constitute investment advice.

Investments are subject to market and currency exchange fluctuations and the risks inherent in investments in securities. The value of investments and the income they generate may go down as well as up and it is possible that investors will not recover their initial investment. There is no guarantee that the performance objective will be achieved.

This document is directed only at person(s) who have professional experience in matters relating to investments (“relevant persons”). Any investment or investment activity to which this document relates is available only to and will be engaged in only with Professional Clients as defined in the rules of the Financial Conduct Authority. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents.

Equity strategies may be exposed to other risks defined below:

MARKET RISK: This is a general risk that affects all investments. Price for financial instruments are mainly determined by the financial markets and by the economic development of the issuers, who are themselves affected by the overall situation of the global economy and by the economic and political conditions prevailing in each relevant country

EQUITY RISK: The risks associated with investments in equity (and similar instruments) include significant fluctuations in prices, negative information about the issuer or market and the subordination of a company’s shares to its bonds. Moreover, these fluctuations are often amplified in the short term. the risk that one or more companies suffer a downturn or fail to grow can have a negative impact on the performance of the overall portfolio at a given time. There is no guarantee that investors will see an appreciation in value. The value of investments and the income they generate may go down as well as up and it is possible that investors will not recover their initial investment.

INTEREST RATE RISK: The value of an investment may be affected by interest rate fluctuations. Interest rates may be influenced by several elements or events, such as monetary policy, the discount rate, inflation, etc.

CREDIT RISK: This is the risk that may derive from the rating downgrade of a bond issuer to which the strategies are exposed, which may therefore cause the value of the investments to go down. Strategies investing in high-yield bonds present a higher than average risk due to the greater fluctuation of their currency or the quality of the issuer.

LIQUIDITY RISK: This risk arises from the difficulty of selling an asset at a fair market price and at a desired time due to a lack of buyers.

COUNTERPARTY RISK: This risk is associated with the ability of a counterparty in a financial transaction to fulfil its commitments like payment, delivery and reimbursement.

OPERATIONAL AND CUSTODY RISK: Some markets are less regulated than most of the international markets; hence, the services related to custody and liquidation for the strategy in such markets could be more risky.

DERIVATIVES RISK: When investing in over-the-counter or listed derivatives, the fund aims to hedge and/or to leverage the yield of its position. The attention of the investor is drawn to the fact that leverage increases the volatility of the strategy.

CAPITAL RISK: The investments in the funds are subject to market fluctuations and the risks inherent in investments in securities. The value of investments and the income they generate may go down as well as up and it is possible that investors will not recover their initial outlay, the funds described being at risk of capital loss.

ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE (ESG) INVESTMENT RISK: The lack of common or harmonized definitions and labels integrating ESG and sustainability criteria at EU level may result in different approaches by managers when setting ESG objectives. This also means that it may be difficult to compare strategies integrating ESG and sustainability criteria to the extent that the selection and weightings applied to select investments may be based on metrics that may share the same name but have different underlying meanings. In evaluating a security based on the ESG and sustainability criteria, the Investment Manager may also use data sources provided by external ESG research providers. Given the evolving nature of ESG, these data sources may for the time being be incomplete, inaccurate or unavailable. Applying responsible business conduct standards in the investment process may lead to the exclusion of securities of certain issuers. Consequently, the strategy’s performance may at times be better or worse than the performance of relatable funds that do not apply such standards.

This is not an exhaustive list of risks. For a full description of risks associated with each fund, please consult a client relationship manager or the global BNP Paribas Asset Management website: staging.bnpparibas-am.co.uk.

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