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After a hot fall, a spring tornado could wreak havoc in France
Barely half a year after this year’s French budget was passed, the wrangling over the 2027 budget is about to begin, but that’s not all, because France will also hold a presidential election next spring. During the first public presidential debate, some of the radical candidates put forward ideas that were, at times, unconventional. Although the presidential election in late April still seems far off, based on the latest polls, if no candidate secures enough votes and a runoff is held, it cannot be ruled out that two radical presidential candidates will face off against each other. Market participants may have begun to price in this growing uncertainty, as the yield spread between French and German 10-year government bonds has started to widen again in recent weeks. The period ahead promises to be full of twists and turns, so it will be worth keeping a close eye on developments in French domestic politics.
Commodities - Technical Analysis
Gold and silver prices have retested their uptrend lines, so the long-term trend may continue. Oil prices have broken out of a contracting pattern, which may signal the start of another upward wave. Natural gas prices have also begun to rise, signaling a buy. In the case of copper, the main uptrend remains in effect, and there are currently no signs indicating a change in the trend’s structure. Following significant gains, wheat and corn have become heavily overbought, increasing the likelihood of a correction.
U.S. and European corporate bond spreads remain at historically low levels, leaving limited room for yield premiums, particularly in the high-yield segment. Regional sovereign and corporate bonds denominated in euros and U.S. dollars still offer attractive alternatives with moderate risk profiles. In this report, we have selected instruments linked to fundamentally solid issuers that provide a balanced risk-return profile in the current market environment.
Diversification of the bond portfolio by currency should continue to be implemented through euro- and dollar-denominated regional government bonds (Hungarian, Romanian, Albanian), as well as high-quality corporate bonds issued in euros and dollars.
Euro-Denominated Corporate Bonds
Corporate bond yields remain at low levels, as risk appetite in the capital markets is currently high, supported by strong profit outlooks and a favorable macroeconomic environment. January started with an exceptionally strong wave of corporate bond issuance. In such an environment, it is challenging to find corporate bonds that still offer meaningful yields at acceptable risk levels. For this reason, we have kept well-known names on our list, as finding better alternatives is difficult.
Dollar-Denominated Corporate Bonds
Companies in the region typically issue bonds in euros, with a much narrower list available in dollars. The list includes two OTP-related bonds—subordinated instruments maturing in 2033 and 2035. Both have early call options, which can significantly limit the yield investors ultimately realize. Another Hungarian-linked bond on the list is MVM’s note maturing in June 2028.
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