The world continues to grapple with US President Donald Trump’s chaotic tariff policy since his “liberation day” announcement on April 2. The unveiling of sky-high tariffs rattled allies and rivals alike. While effective tariff rates have dropped since then, it appears that market-friendly voices within the Trump camp are prevailing over those who are solely driven by ideology.
Although the administration now seems to be adopting a more pragmatic stance, a high degree of uncertainty still persists. A court battle is currently underway to address lingering questions regarding the use of emergency provisions to impose tariffs. We anticipate gradual, although possibly bumpy, de-escalation going forward.
Macroeconomic implications from current US tariffs
Align with the path of least resistance
Region | Real GDP | Inflation | Central Bank |
---|---|---|---|
US | ↓Less efficiency | ↑Higher goods prices | More uncertainty over movements in the short-term and more"reactive" bias |
Rest of the World | ↓Loss of a key export market | ↓Lower energy prices | Expect loosening bias |
We believe the Trump administration has realised that transforming the US economy into the world’s workshop is not feasible. However, this doesn’t mean that US security concerns over certain key production lines have abated. It’s highly likely that the US will continue to pursue self-sufficiency or, at least de-risk supply chains in key goods such as semiconductors and pharmaceuticals. It’s unlikely that the US will aim to gain a dominant share of the market for t-shirts, toys, dolls or other such low value items.
The importance of China
This trade war has highlighted how embedded Chinese products and components are in Western industry and it could be argued that the US is also at a loss in terms of how to respond.
There is no denying that some of the national security concerns that the US has often cited as a base to impose tariffs on their partners are real. The rise of China from an exporter of low value-added consumer products to industrial powerhouse with strong competitiveness in key sectors like semiconductors, automotive or heavy industrial machinery can’t be ignored. This poses a risk for Western nations and a great challenge for countries with large exports in such industries, especially in Europe.
US economy: a “bifurcated equilibrium”
US growth may face a bumpy path ahead in the coming quarters because of policy uncertainty and trade volatility, but Trump taking the off-ramp with regards to the de facto trade embargo with China means that something approaching a sharp slowdown or perhaps even a recession is now highly unlikely. We expect the impact from tariffs on US inflation this year to be a little lower than feared earlier and equally growth expectations should be a little higher.
That said there are still some pre-existing areas of weakness in the US economy that are worth monitoring in the medium term. We would define the current environment in the US as a “bifurcated equilibrium”. This can be seen amongst consumers (top 10% account for as much as 50% of consumption) and the stock market (large caps outperform small caps). We see several scenarios where the US Federal Reserve might feel compelled to cut more than currently priced, yet residual inflation uncertainty will likely make the Federal Open Markets Committee (FOMC) more reactive than proactive.
We expect a shift in focus from the more painful items of Trump’s agenda, such as trade, to the more positive ones for risk, such as fiscal policy, deregulation and the potential resolution of simmering geopolitical conflicts.
When it comes to US fiscal policy, we have reassessed our stance. Recent proposals show spending increases will exceed reductions. The overall trajectory now appears expansionary, making the long end Treasuries less attractive amid mounting scrutiny of US government finances.
EU and UK: weak growth might persist
The temporary truce on the tariff front augurs well for the US but we expect the EU and the UK to be at the receiving end if cheap Chinese goods flood into their markets. This could particularly exacerbate the problems faced by Europe’s manufacturing sector, which is struggling to compete with the US and Asian countries. We expect growth to disappoint both in the EU and the UK. The ongoing global trade war, along with lower oil prices and their currency’s strength against the dollar, may contribute to disinflation. That could drive the European Central Bank and the Bank of England to further cut interest rates.
Fixed income opportunities
We see this environment as positive for both rates and spreads. Government bonds might benefit from sharper cuts in rates than what’s currently priced. For now, duration in developed markets outside the US is preferable, along with the front end and belly of the US curve. Certain emerging markets, such as Brazil or Mexico, also offer interesting opportunities in the rates space.
Risk assets are today in a stable equilibrium, given several different forces at play. Yet, credit spreads are tight, and the overall macroeconomic picture is not great. We continue to prefer defensive sectors, secured bonds and short duration paper, with several high conviction themes.
Strategy specific risks
- Share Class Hedging Risk - The share class hedging process can cause the value of investments to fall due to market movements, rebalancing considerations and, in extreme circumstances, default by the counterparty providing the hedging contract.
- Interest Rate Risk - The Strategy 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.
- Contingent convertible bonds - The Strategy 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.
- Credit Risk - The issuer of a bond or a similar investment within the Strategy may not pay income or repay capital to the Strategy when due.
- Derivative risk - the Strategy may use derivatives to reduce costs and/or the overall risk of the Strategy (this is also known as Efficient Portfolio Management or "EPM"). Derivatives involve a level of risk, however, for EPM they should not increase the overall riskiness of the Strategy.
- Liquidity Risk (general) - During difficult market conditions there may not be enough investors to buy and sell certain investments. This may have an impact on the value of the Strategy.
- 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 Strategy's assets.
- Sub investment grade bonds - The Strategy 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.
- Charges from capital - Some or all of the Strategy’s charges are taken from capital. Should there not be sufficient capital growth in the Strategy this may cause capital erosion.

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.
Important information
This presentation is intended for investment professionals and not for the benefit of retail investors.
This presentation is for informational purposes only and is not investment advice. Market and exchange rate movements can cause the value of an investment to fall as well as rise, and you may get back less than originally invested. Initial charges are likely to have a greater proportionate effect on returns if investments are liquidated in the shorter term.
Past performance is no guide to the future. Company examples are for illustrative purposes only and are not a recommendation to buy or sell. Quoted yields are not a guide or guarantee for the expected level of distributions to be received. The yield may fluctuate significantly during times of extreme market and economic volatility. Awards and ratings should not be taken as a recommendation.
The views expressed are those of the presenter at the time of writing, are not necessarily those of Jupiter as a whole and may be subject to change. This is particularly true during periods of rapidly changing market circumstances. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information provided but no assurance or warranties are given.
Issued in the UK by Jupiter Asset Management Limited (JAM), registered address: The Zig Zag Building, 70 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6SQ is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Issued in the EU by Jupiter Asset Management International S.A. (JAMI), registered address: 5, Rue Heienhaff, Senningerberg L-1736, Luxembourg which is authorised and regulated by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier. No part of this document may be reproduced in any manner without the prior permission of JAM/JAMI.
For marketing purposes of this document, LATAM is defined as the following countries:
Argentina
Legal Notice for Residents in the Republic of Argentina
This document includes a private invitation to invest in securities. It is addressed only to you on an individual, exclusive, and confidential basis, and its unauthorised copying, disclosure, or transfer by any means whatsoever is absolutely and strictly forbidden. [Jupiter Asset Management Limited / Jupiter Unit Trust Managers Limited] will not provide copies of this document, or provide any kind of advice or clarification, or accept any offer or commitment to purchase the securities herein referred to from persons other than the intended recipient. The offer herein contained is not a public offering, and as such it is not and will not be registered with, or authorised by, the applicable enforcement authority. The information contained herein has been compiled by [Jupiter Asset Management Limited / Jupiter Unit Trust Managers Limited], who assumes the sole responsibility for the accuracy of the data herein disclosed.”
Brazil
Legal Notice for Residents in Brazil
The Funds may not be offered or sold to the public in Brazil. Accordingly, the Funds have not been and will not be registered with the Brazilian Securities and Exchange Commission (Comissão de Valores Mobiliários, the “CVM”), nor have been submitted to the foregoing agency for approval. Documents relating to the Funds, as well as the information contained therein, may not be supplied to the public in Brazil, as the offering is not a public offering of Funds in Brazil, nor used in connection with any offer for subscription or sale of Funds to the public in Brazil.
Chile
Aviso Legal para Residentes en Chile
“ESTA OFERTA PRIVADA SE INICIA EL DÍA SEGUN LO ESTABLECIDO EN EL TITULO Y SE ACOGE A LAS DISPOSICIONES DE LA NORMA DE CARÁCTER GENERAL Nº 336 DE LA SUPERINTENDECIA DE VALORES Y SEGUROS, HOY COMISIÓN PARA EL MERCADO FINANCIERO. ESTA OFERTA VERSA SOBRE VALORES NO INSCRITOS EN EL REGISTRO DE VALORES O EN EL REGISTRO DE VALORES EXTRANJEROS QUE LLEVA LA COMISIÓN PARA EL MERCADO FINANCIERO, POR LO QUE TALES VALORES NO ESTÁN SUJETOS A LA FISCALIZACIÓN DE ÉSTA; POR TRATAR DE VALORES NO INSCRITOS NO EXISTE LA OBLIGACIÓN POR PARTE DEL EMISOR DE ENTREGAR EN CHILE INFORMACIÓN PÚBLICA RESPECTO DE LOS VALORES SOBRE LOS QUE VERSA ESTA OFERTA; ESTOS VALORES NO PODRÁN SER OBJETO DE OFERTA PÚBLICA MIENTRAS NO SEAN INSCRITOS EN EL REGISTRO DE VALORES CORRESPONDIENTE.”
Colombia
Legal Notice for Residents of Colombia
This is not an offer of securities in Colombia or to any Colombian national, citizen or resident of Colombia or a corporation or partnership organized under the laws of Colombia or having a principal place of business in Colombia (“Colombian Residents”). All information, statistics, data and projections provided herein (the “Information”) along with the prospectus of each one of the funds (the “Prospectus”) are not intended for distribution, promotion or marketing purposes to Colombian Residents. Both the Information and Prospectus: (i) have been drafted, prepared and listed for investment professionals and are not intended to be addressed to any individual investor or to the general public in Colombia; and (ii) does not constitute a public offer under the current provisions of Colombia as they are not being offered or addressed to an undetermined amount of people or to more than one hundred individually identified potential investors. The Information and Prospectus listed herein are not an invitation tosubscribefor units in funds or any other fund managed by Jupiter (the “Funds”). Funds’ units mentioned in this Prospectus have not been, and will not be, registered under any applicable securities laws in Colombia. Therefore, they may not be publicly offered in Colombia or to or for the benefit of a Colombian Resident (as defined above). The Funds may not be distributed, promoted or marketed in Colombia or to Colombian residents, unless such promotion and marketing is performed by an authorized distributor in compliance with Part 3 of Decree 2555 of 2010 and any other applicable rules and regulations related to the promotion of foreign funds in Colombia as amended from time to time. The Information and Prospectus is listed for general guidance only, and it is the responsibility of any person or persons in possession of this documentation to inform themselves of, and to observe, all applicable laws and regulations of any relevant jurisdiction. Potential applicants for Fund’s units should inform themselves of any applicable legal requirements, exchange control regulations and applicable taxes in the countries of their respective citizenship, residence Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Legal Notice for Residents of Costa Rica
This is an individual and private offer which is made in Costa Rica upon reliance on an exemption from registration before the General Superintendency of Securities (“SUGEVAL”), pursuant to article 6 of the Regulations on the Public Offering of Securities (“Reglamento sobre Oferta Pública de Valores”). This information is confidential, and is not to be reproduced or distributed to third parties as this is NOT a public offering of securities in Costa Rica. As this is NOT a public offering of securities under the definition set forth in the Securities Market Statute (“Ley Reguladora del Mercado de Valores”), the product being offered is not intended for the Costa Rican public or market and neither is registered or will be registered before the SUGEVAL and, accordingly, it is not covered by the supervision, disciplinary regime and protections afforded to local investors by the Securities Market Statute with regards to the public offerings of securities, and it is not registered in the National Registry of Securities and Intermediaries (“Registro Nacional de Valores e Intermediarios”). As this is a private offering of securities, the investor will not have access to ongoing reporting required by the regulations set forth by the National Council for Supervision of the Financial System (“CONASSIF”) and the SUGEVAL. As this is NOT a public offering of securities registered in the National Registry of Securities and Intermediaries, the investor will not be able to trade the product in the secondary market.
Mexico
Legal Notice for Residents of Mexico
The securities have not been and will not be registered with the National Registry of Securities, maintained by the Mexican National Banking and Securities Commission and, as a result, may not be offered or sold publicly in Mexico. The fund and any underwriter or purchaser may offer and sell the securities in Mexico on a private placement basis to Institutional and Accredited Investors pursuant to Article 8 of the Mexican Securities Market Law.
NB: Please note that if securities in a fund are offered discreetly and on a one-to-one basis to Mexican investors, from outside of Mexico, with no intent to attract a large number of Mexican investors, then no legend related to Mexico should be added. Otherwise use legend above.
Peru
Legal Notice for Residents of Peru
The funds have not been registered before the Superintendenciadel Mercado de Valores(SMV) and are being placed by means of a private offer. SMV has not reviewed the information provided to the investor. This document is only for the exclusive use of institutional investors in Peru and is not for public distribution.
Uruguay
Legal Notice for Residents of Uruguay
The sale of the securities qualifies as a private placement pursuant to section 2 of Uruguayan law 18,627. The securities must not be offered or sold to the public in Uruguay, except in circumstances which do not constitute a public offering or distribution under Uruguayan laws and regulations. The securities are not and will not be registered with the Financial Services Superintendency of the Central Bank of Uruguay. The securities correspond to investment funds that are not investment funds regulated by Uruguayan law 16,774 dated September 27, 1996, as amended.
For US Offshore
The funds have not been registered under the United States Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, nor the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended. None of the shares may be offered or sold, directly or indirectly in the United States or to any US Person, unless the securities are registered under the Act, or an exemption from the registration requirements of the Act is available. A US Person is defined as (a) any individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States for federal income tax purposes; (b) a corporation, partnership or other entity created or organized under the laws of or existing in the United States; (c) an estate or trust the income of which is subject to United States federal income tax regardless of whether such income is effectively connected with a United States trade or business.
Issued by Jupiter Asset Management Limited, registered address: The Zig Zag Building, 70 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6SQ is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Issued in the EU by Jupiter Asset Management International S.A. (JAMI), registered address: 5, Rue Heienhaff, Senningerberg L-1736, Luxembourg which is authorised and regulated by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier.
No part of this presentation may be reproduced in any manner without the prior permission of JAM and JAMI.
Chile & US offshore
Important information:
This presentation is intended for investment professionals and not for the benefit of retail investors.
This presentation is for informational purposes only and is not investment advice. Market and exchange rate movements can cause the value of an investment to fall as well as rise, and you may get back less than originally invested. Initial charges are likely to have a greater proportionate effect on returns if investments are liquidated in the shorter term.
Past performance is no guide to the future. Company examples are for illustrative purposes only and are not a recommendation to buy or sell. Quoted yields are not a guide or guarantee for the expected level of distributions to be received. The yield may fluctuate significantly during times of extreme market and economic volatility. Awards and ratings should not be taken as a recommendation.
The views expressed are those of the presenter at the time of writing, are not necessarily those of Jupiter as a whole and may be subject to change. This is particularly true during periods of rapidly changing market circumstances. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information provided but no assurance or warranties are given.
Issued in the UK by Jupiter Asset Management Limited (JAM), registered address: The Zig Zag Building, 70 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6SQ is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Issued in the EU by Jupiter Asset Management International S.A. (JAMI), registered address: 5, Rue Heienhaff, Senningerberg L-1736, Luxembourg which is authorised and regulated by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier. No part of this document may be reproduced in any manner without the prior permission of JAM/JAMI.
Aviso Legal para Residentes en Chile
“ESTA OFERTA PRIVADA SE INICIA EL DÍA SEGUN LO ESTABLECIDO EN EL TITULO Y SE ACOGE A LAS DISPOSICIONES DE LA NORMA DE CARÁCTER GENERAL Nº 336 DE LA SUPERINTENDECIA DE VALORES Y SEGUROS, HOY COMISIÓN PARA EL MERCADO FINANCIERO. ESTA OFERTA VERSA SOBRE VALORES NO INSCRITOS EN EL REGISTRO DE VALORES O EN EL REGISTRO DE VALORES EXTRANJEROS QUE LLEVA LA COMISIÓN PARA EL MERCADO FINANCIERO, POR LO QUE TALES VALORES NO ESTÁN SUJETOS A LA FISCALIZACIÓN DE ÉSTA; POR TRATAR DE VALORES NO INSCRITOS NO EXISTE LA OBLIGACIÓN POR PARTE DEL EMISOR DE ENTREGAR EN CHILE INFORMACIÓN PÚBLICA RESPECTO DE LOS VALORES SOBRE LOS QUE VERSA ESTA OFERTA; ESTOS VALORES NO PODRÁN SER OBJETO DE OFERTA PÚBLICA MIENTRAS NO SEAN INSCRITOS EN EL REGISTRO DE VALORES CORRESPONDIENTE.”
For US Offshore
The funds have not been registered under the United States Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, nor the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended. None of the shares may be offered or sold, directly or indirectly in the United States or to any US Person, unless the securities are registered under the Act, or an exemption from the registration requirements of the Act is available. A US Person is defined as (a) any individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States for federal income tax purposes; (b) a corporation, partnership or other entity created or organized under the laws of or existing in the United States; (c) an estate or trust the income of which is subject to United States federal income tax regardless of whether such income is effectively connected with a United States trade or business.
Issued by Jupiter Asset Management Limited, registered address: The Zig Zag Building, 70 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6SQ is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Issued in the EU by Jupiter Asset Management International S.A. (JAMI), registered address: 5, Rue Heienhaff, Senningerberg L-1736, Luxembourg which is authorised and regulated by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier.
No part of this presentation may be reproduced in any manner without the prior permission of JAM and JAMI.