The global fixed income markets are marked by sudden swings in macroeconomic narratives in recent years. Elevated geopolitical uncertainty, the unpredictability of policymakers’ reaction function and the fading attractiveness of money markets due to a decline in cash rates increasingly underscore the importance of flexible bond strategies. By actively managing exposures, such strategies seek to capture incremental yield over cash while exploiting dislocations caused by macroeconomic volatility.
Jupiter has a long history and deep experience in managing flexible bond strategies. The Jupiter Multi-Sector Fixed Income team has been managing Jupiter Strategic Bond Fund since 2008. This period has been punctuated by many seminal occurrences such as the aftermath of the Global Financial Crisis, the European Debt Crisis, Brexit and the surge in inflation following COVID-19 due to supply chain disruption. The ability to adapt to changing market conditions has been central to navigating fixed income markets effectively.
The Jupiter Strategic Bond Fund is an unconstrained, directional strategy that invests across a broad range of fixed income segments, with an aim to achieve a high income with the prospect of capital growth through a combination of top-down asset allocation (such as positioning across government bonds, high yield credit and duration) and bottom-up credit selection.
Three key principles drive the team’s approach to investing: staying flexible, gaining truly global exposure and a sustained focus on capturing the yield advantage.
Being flexible
A defining feature of today’s fixed income markets is their sensitivity to macroeconomic data and geopolitical developments. Market moves are often amplified by leverage and derivatives, at times leading to price action that appears disconnected from underlying fundamentals.
In this environment, flexibility is essential. The strategy actively adjusts its positioning across interest rates and credit, both in terms of geographic exposure and maturity profile, seeking to take advantage of market dislocations.
Active adjustment
Duration has seen multiple tactical shifts in 2025 and 2026
Strategic Bond Monthly Changes in Duration Contribution by Curve
Truly global
Fixed income benchmarks, whether for government or corporate debt, are often dominated by issuers from a few key countries. Bonds issued from the United States typically have an outsized weighting in these indices. This reflects the scale of debt issuance rather than the most attractive investment opportunities.
For the Strategic Bond Fund, being truly global means providing diversified exposure to both interest rates and credit spreads across regions. While the portfolio includes the US, Europe and the UK, it also allocates to developed markets such as Australia and New Zealand, as well as emerging markets including Brazil, Mexico and Paraguay, thereby broadening the opportunity set, enhancing diversification and capturing attractive yield opportunities.
In the current environment, emerging markets offer particularly compelling opportunities, although investors need to be mindful of the risks associated with such investments including higher volatility, lower liquidity, as well as currency risks.
For instance, real yields on local currency debt in countries such as Brazil and Mexico are way higher than those in developed markets.
Real yield comparison
10-year local currency sovereign bond yield minus Bloomberg consensus estimate of 2026 inflation
In addition, emerging markets can provide idiosyncratic sources of return, with certain special situations delivering strong performance in recent years.
Offering a true yield advantage
A key characteristic of fixed income investing—particularly in credit—is that income tends to account for a large share of total returns over the long term.
Yield advantage
For this reason, the Fund focuses on delivering a high level of yield relative to other fixed income alternatives, particularly within corporate credit. Even so, the yield generated by the Fund is not guaranteed and may vary with market conditions.
Jupiter Strategic Bond Yield to Maturity vs. GBP Corporate Bond Market Segments
This yield is generated through disciplined portfolio construction, targeting areas of the market that offer attractive income while maintaining solid credit quality. This process is supported by detailed credit analysis from the well-resourced Jupiter Credit Research Team.
Jupiter is a high-conviction active asset manager focused on delivering strong client outcomes. Investment managers have the autonomy to act on their convictions, supported by risk specialists. The firm emphasises governance and client relationships, while its experienced and collaborative team—aligned through long-term incentives—drives differentiated strategies across a global distribution network.
Fund specific risks
- Interest Rate Risk - The Fund can invest in assets whose value is sensitive to changes in interest rates (for example bonds) meaning that the value of these investments may fluctuate significantly with movement in interest rates.e.g. the value of a bond tends to decrease when interest rates rise.
- Pricing Risk - Price movements in financial assets mean the value of assets can fall as well as rise, with this risk typically amplified in more volatile market conditions.
- Credit Risk - The issuer of a bond or a similar investment within the Fund may not pay income or repay capital to the Fund when due.
- Derivative risk - the Fund may use derivatives to generate returns and/or to reduce costs and the overall risk of the Fund. Using derivatives can involve a higher level of risk. A small movement in the price of an underlying investment may result in a disproportionately large movement in the price of the derivative investment.
- Contingent convertible bonds - The Fund may invest in contingent convertible bonds. These instruments may experience material losses based on certain trigger events. Specifically these triggers may result in a partial or total loss of value, or the investments may be converted into equity, both of which are likely to entail significant losses.
- Counterparty Default Risk - the risk of losses due to the default of a counterparty on a derivatives contract or a custodian that is safeguarding the Fund's assets.
- Sub investment grade bonds - The Fund may invest a significant portion of its assets in securities which are those rated below investment grade by a credit rating agency. They are considered to have a greater risk of loss of capital or failing to meet their income payment obligations than higher rated investment grade bonds.
For a more detailed explanation of risk factors, please refer to the "Risk Factors" section of the Scheme Particulars
The value of active minds: independent thinking
A key feature of Jupiter’s investment approach is that we eschew the adoption of a house view, instead preferring to allow our specialist fund managers to formulate their own opinions on their asset class. As a result, it should be noted that any views expressed – including on matters relating to environmental, social and governance considerations – are those of the author(s), and may differ from views held by other Jupiter investment professionals.
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