Put volatility in check
Global markets have been whipsawed by macroeconomic uncertainty, and few asset classes have been spared. In such an environment, the right strategy can make all the difference.
We're here to help you see the board. It’s your move.
We're here to help you see the board. It’s your move.
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End value of a US$100K investment in the S&P 500
over 20 years true
over 20 years true
Missing top-performing days can hurt returns
Source: BlackRock, Bloomberg as of 12/31/2024. Chart shows 20-year time period from 2005 to 2024. Stocks are represented by the S&P 500 Index, an unmanaged index that is generally considered representative of the U.S. stock market. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.
One rule: Stay the course
Resilience after volatility
Markets shift, but history shows they often rebound with strength. Staying invested is a strong opening move.
Missing out on key moves
Missing just a few of the market’s best days can dramatically impact long-term returns.
Positioning for an advantage
Staying invested and planning ahead may help unlock smarter ways to manage risk, ease market bumps, and stay focused through volatility.
Two winning strategies
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The big question that clients in Asia Pacific are asking me today is, “Is there a smarter way to diversify in this market?”
Hi, I'm Jeff Shen, Co-CIO and Co-Head of the Systematic Active Equity team here at BlackRock.
In recent years, we've seen equity and bond correlations rise and fail to deliver the diversification needed in a traditional 60/40 portfolio. As we face more economic and market uncertainty, we think there is a smarter way to build a more resilient portfolio by adding alternative strategies.
Alternative strategies like market neutral, absolute return strategies are made for times like these for two key reasons. First, they aim to deliver positive returns regardless of how the market is performing*. Next, they often aim to have near-zero correlation to broader equity markets.
As a result, these strategies may offer investors a differentiated source of return, which in turn could be additive to overall portfolio diversification.
Within the BlackRock Systematic team, we carefully manage our portfolios to seek a low correlation to traditional asset classes such as equities, bonds and commodities.
Our systematic approach utilizes the combined strengths of cutting-edge technology, the power of big data, and human intellect to uncover potential opportunities across thousands of stocks, allowing us to effectively navigate volatility.
* There is no guarantee that a positive investment outcome will be achieved.
Precision meets performance
BlackRock’s systematic strategies combine data science with human judgment to help you stay ahead of market shifts and generate consistent alpha potential.
Through constant innovation and by leveraging proprietary insights, our systematic investment team seeks to uncover real opportunities amidst the market noise.
The big question that clients are asking me today is, “Why now for Asian bonds?”
Hi, I’m Yii Hui, portfolio manager on the Asian Fixed Income and Credit team at BlackRock.
Amid the global market volatility triggered by escalating trade tensions, the golden age of fixed income shines bright, especially in Asian credit.
The asset class has evolved into a higher quality, diverse investment universe, no longer dominated by one country or sector. We believe this transformation offers investors opportunity for both growth and resilience.
Since President Trump announced his presidential bid in 20221, Asian credit has outperformed US credit by over 4%2, supported by higher growth, lower inflation, and stronger fundamentals. With more room for rate cuts and limited supply of US dollar credit, Asian credit also benefits from a supportive technical backdrop.
More importantly, tariffs have low direct impact on companies within the Asian credit universe3, as the market is largely made up of infrastructure players, government-backed corporations, and companies focused on domestic demand.
Elevated yields in Asian credit present a timely and compelling opportunity for investors. By capturing undervalued, higher-yielding, and shorter duration bonds, investors may benefit from relatively attractive yields without taking excessive risk.
Notes:
1 Between 15 November 2022 and 10 Apr 2025
Sources:
2 BlackRock, Bloomberg, as of 10 April 2025. Asian Credit refers to the JP Morgan Asian Credit Index. US credit refers to BBG Global Agg Corporate TR Index Hedged USD.
3 BlackRock, as of 31 March 2025
Asian credit can offer a pocket of resilience and growth in this environment. We break down the key drivers behind the performance of this asset class and why it’s catching investor attention today.
The big question that clients are asking me today is, “How do multi-asset strategies weather market volatility?”
Hi, I'm Justin Christofel, portfolio manager and Co-Head of the Multi-Asset Income team here at BlackRock.
2025 has started out in a much more volatile and uncertain fashion and now we're seeing investors look more toward diversifying multi-asset strategies to help them navigate these uncertain times.
A multi-asset approach has the dual benefit of being able to invest across a broad global opportunity set, while also being able to dynamically adjust its asset allocation as the opportunity set and risk landscape evolves.
So putting this in today's context, U.S. assets have struggled amidst this market turmoil. With growth likely to be weaker and inflation higher than the consensus expected at the start of the year, we think investors need to reconsider their asset allocation.
This includes emphasizing quality dividend payers, shifting more exposure into non-U.S. equities, staying cautious on long-term interest rates, and leaning into select credit exposures where yields are relatively more attractive.
Ultimately, this market environment can leave investors feeling paralyzed. However, we think a diversified opportunity set and willingness to adapt provide multi-asset investors the right toolkit to navigate today's market.
Moreover, having a portfolio that derives a greater portion of the total return from income may insulate investors from the harshest price swings that may be a feature of the investment landscape this year.
A diversified opportunity set and swift responses to shifting market dynamics – both key tenets of a multi-asset approach to investing - can turn market changes into opportunities.
