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The End of an EM Asset Class?

What's wrong with local debt? EM local debt markets have steadily lost foreign share over the past decade, while equity positioning has been far more stable. What's going on?

Part of the answer is the inherent bias against local debt returns in EM given structural gaps between interest rates and nominal growth, gaps that become much more evident during periods of global malaise - and part of the answer is the fact that EM also has much fatter "extreme" tail risks than equities.

Unfortunately, we don't necessarily see a reversal of the fading trend ahead, given our expectations for weak DM growth, flat or falling commodity prices and continued positive real global rates ahead.

However, we also don't believe the asset class is "on the way out" completely and continue to find plenty of value in individual EM markets.

 

The End of an EM Asset Class? (2025 Update)

Monthly Chartbook

Our monthly guide to emerging markets by charts and data.

EM Monthly Chartbook (August 2025)

China Chartbook

Our monthly guide to China by charts and data.

China Monthly Chartbook (August 2025)

Frontier Chartbook

Our quarterly guide to frontier markets by charts and data.

EM Frontier Chartbook (2025 Q3 Edition)

Annual Chartbook

Our annual guide to emerging markets by charts and data.

EM Annual Chartbook (2025 Edition)

Corporate Chartbook

Our semi-annual guide to EM listed corporate trends by charts and data.

EM Corporate Charbook (2022 Edition)