Webinars and Events

As nations around the world continue to cautiously reopen their economies, our Asset Allocation Committee has taken a similar approach with regard to investing – venturing out with caution. On July 22, Joe Amato, Erik Knutzen, Brad Tank and Tony Tutrone discussed these dynamics in more detail, as well as their short-term and long-term views of the bear, base and bull case scenarios for the COVID-19 crisis initially outlined in the 2Q2020 Outlook and Investment Playbook.

Even before the coronavirus outbreak, 2020 was shaping up as a heated year for U.S. politics, with a sharply contested presidential race and deeply divided electorate. Now, the landscape is even more complex, given ongoing health concerns, economic weakness and unrest tied to social justice.

On July 14, Neuberger Berman’s Joseph V. Amato, President and Chief Investment Officer, Equities, spoke with political scientist Sam Potolicchio, PhD, President, Preparing Global Leaders Forum, about factors that could influence the 2020 election and the political landscape going forward.

On May 20, Joe Amato, Erik Knutzen, Brad Tank and Terri Towers, discussed the increasing bifurcations within their preferred base case categories, which have begun to change the nature of the opportunity set even as they re-endorse the initial base case scenario and investment views. Additionally, Towers provided insight on development pathway for vaccines in the age of COVID-19.

On April 15, Joe Amato, Erik Knutzen, Brad Tank and Tony Tutrone discussed Neuberger Berman’s “Playbook” for the months ahead. Topics covered include macro views on the recovery scenarios and the forces driving them, investment themes which we believe will drive opportunity in the post-crisis environment, and the Asset Allocation Committee’s latest views on navigating the uncertain investment landscape.

On April 6, Chief Data Scientist, Michael Recce, PhD, and Senior Health Care Analyst Terri Towers, PhD, came together to provide insights from their respective fields on the base case for the virus’ path and what will impact its trajectory. Director of Global Equity Research, Timothy Creedon, moderated.

On March 25, Neuberger Berman Chief Investment Officers, Joe Amato, Erik Knutzen and Brad Tank were joined by Senior Health Care Analyst Terri Towers, PhD, and Director of Research, Asia, YT Boon. As the third of our ongoing discussions, they shared their views on the current state of the markets and its latest implications.

To access the slides from this webinar, please click here.

In an effort to bring you timely insights during this period of uncertainty, we are pleased to share with you an update from Terri Towers. In this update, Terri shares recent developments on the global COVID-19 (“Coronavirus”) pandemic, as well as the status of drug trials and vaccines currently underway.

On March 11, Neuberger Berman CIOs Joe Amato, Erik Knutzen and Brad Tank, Senior Health Care Analyst Terri Towers, and Senior Energy Analyst Jeff Wyll, discussed their views and took questions on the rapidly changing investment landscape. They focused on implications of COVID-19, the recent Federal Reserve rate cuts, and the oil price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia.

On February 26, Neuberger Berman CIOs Joe Amato, Brad Tank and Erik Knutzen along with Head of Healthcare Research Terri Towers discussed the growing coronavirus fears creating volatility across markets. Other topics covered included dialogue on the current outbreak, its impact on global markets and portfolio positioning views across asset classes.

As we enter 2020, the balance of economic and market risks is changing. Some global trade-related risks are abating and manufacturing growth appears to be stabilizing. On the other hand, new risks are rising, including political risk in the U.S. and the Middle East. Market valuations are high. Central banks remain accommodative, but are less likely to provide additional support this year, and it is not clear that governments will fill the gap with fiscal stimulus.

Where do the scales settle? We think this rebalancing lays the ground for improved sentiment. The Asset Allocation Committee has begun to embrace risk, upgrading its outlook for equities, with a bias toward more pro-cyclical sectors and regions, as well as emerging markets stocks and bonds.

On Tuesday, January 14, Erik Knutzen, CIO of Multi-Asset Class, Gorky Urquieta, Co-Head of Emerging Markets Debt, and Conrad Saldanha, Senior Portfolio Manager, Emerging Markets Equity, discussed:

• The Asset Allocation Committee’s latest views on navigating the current market environment
• Restoration of the growth differential between developed and emerging economies
• Further rotation in equity markets out of defensive and growth stocks into pro-cyclical and value stocks, especially outside of the U.S.
• Key risks the AAC is monitoring over the next 12 months

View our Asset Allocation Committee Outlook >

The fourth quarter began with two opposing themes in evidence. Two-tier growth, with the U.S. outpacing a weakened world, is back. At the same time, investors have been turning back to small caps and cyclical stocks after longstanding trends in favor of large, defensive stocks. These trends have led the Asset Allocation Committee (“AAC”) to adopt a cautious stance in its asset class and regional views, but also more confident views on economically sensitive exposures within its preferred markets, including small company stocks in the U.S.

As the markets exhibit two-tier performance and the global economy edges back toward two-tier growth, the AAC has adopted an appropriately two-tier view.

On Tuesday, October 15, Neuberger Berman Portfolio Managers Erik Knutzen, CIO of Multi-Asset Class, and Brett Reiner, Portfolio Manager, Small Cap Team, discussed:

• The Asset Allocation Committee’s latest views on navigating the current market environment
• The growth divergence between the U.S. and the rest of the world
• The recent rotation of positions in equity markets, indicating a new trend in favor of small caps, value stocks and cyclical sectors
• Key risks the AAC is monitoring over the next 12 months

View our Asset Allocation Committee Outlook >

On Tuesday, August 20, Neuberger Berman Chief Investment Officers discussed the impact of recent movements in interest rates, related broad market volatility. Topics discussed include:

• Economic growth and corporate earnings outlooks
• The potential impact and path of trade conflict and the associated geopolitical risks
• Latest views on asset allocation