Perspectives

Episodes

• 
  Managing through a crisis 20.03.2020 9m

  One effect of the COVID-19 pandemic has been enormous uncertainty for investors. Our weekly podcast is designed to help you navigate the current crisis with insights heard directly from our leading researchers. This episode features MSCI’s Head of Research and Product Development, Peter Zangari and what he’s learned about managing through times of great volatility.
• 
  Looking for lessons from the past 27.03.2020 9m

  How does this market crisis compare to previous periods of extreme volatility, such as the 2008 global financial crisis? We spoke with Dimitris Melas, who leads MSCI’s core research on equity indexes and analytics, to get his take on the characteristics of the current crisis so far and the signs of recovery seen during past crises.
• 
  Talkin' 'bout g-generations 03.04.2020 5m

  Head of Research and Product Development, Peter Zangari returns to the podcast this week to offer his views and share recent insights on generational change, market volatility across asset classes and opportunities to view the markets through new lenses.
• 
  Fall seven times, stand up eight 09.04.2020 7m

  Some areas of the market performed as expected during the current crisis — others have surprised. Raina Oberoi, head of index solutions research for the Americas, applies a factor- and sector-based lens and shares insight into the ways in which markets are, and are not, exhibiting resilience.
• 
  How do you prepare for the unexpected? 17.04.2020 8m

  Zhen Wei, MSCI’s head of China research, understands what it’s like to navigate from the center of a market crisis. He shares his thoughts on Asian economic and market activity as the region begins to recover and what investors are thinking about as they try and prepare for what comes next.
• 
  Are fixed-income markets still thirsting for liquidity? 24.04.2020 8m

  Unpredictable pricing. Increasing bid-ask spreads. Uncertainty in U.S. Treasurys. Laszlo Hollo, of the risk management and liquidity core research team, details how sudden and significant volatility threatened to dry up fixed-income markets and what central banks have done to try and refill the well.
• 
  Analyzing the Fed's unprecedented actions 30.04.2020 10m

  What else does the Fed have in its arsenal to help fight the economic effects of COVID-19? Andy Sparks, MSCI’s head of portfolio management research, discusses how the Fed has helped markets keep functioning, as well as the flexibility – and limits – it has as it works to keep laying the groundwork for a “robust as possible” rebound.
• 
  Rethinking real estate post COVID-19 07.05.2020 8m

  Will employees be keen to return to the office when governments give the go-ahead? Will employers want them to? The outcome could impact commercial real estate valuations, explains Will Robson, global head of real estate solutions research.
• 
  The index review must go on 14.05.2020 11m

  What guided MSCI's decision to proceed with the scheduled May semi-annual index review despite recent volatility? Craig Feldman, global head of index management research, shares his thoughts on the answers to these questions, the review’s key takeaways and the value of consistency.
• 
  #postCOVID19 Part One 21.05.2020 9m

  ESG has emerged as a source of resilience for markets during the current crisis. Does this signal a fundamental shift for investors? In part one of a two-part episode, Linda-Eling Lee, global head of ESG research, discusses ESG themes to watch in the post-COVID-19 era.
• 
  #postCOVID19 Part Two 28.05.2020 10m

  Instead of wondering about the shape of an eventual recovery, what if we focused on its color? In part two of our conversation with head of ESG research, Linda-Eling Lee, we look at potential risks and opportunities post-COVID-19 and ask: What might a “green recovery” look like?
• 
  US Support for Securitization 04.06.2020 10m

  Securitized products have been a major focus for investors, and the Fed, during this crisis, just as they were in 2008. How has this market reacted to Washington’s moves this time around? And what is it telling us about what to expect going forward? We speak with David Zhang, MSCI’s head of research on securitized products.
• 
  Stress Testing Markets 11.06.2020 10m

  Stress tests can be useful tools for examining potential scenarios for the market’s recovery from the effects of COVID-19. Thomas Verbraken, of MSCI’s risk management solutions team, explains.
• 
  5 Lessons from the COVID-19 Market Crisis 18.06.2020 11m

  What have we learned from the COVID-19 market crisis? Dimitris Melas, global head of equity research returns to the podcast with his take.
• 
  Reviewing the 2020 Market Classification Review 25.06.2020 11m

  We get the reasons behind the results of MSCI’s annual review — on Argentina, Turkey, Iceland and other markets — from global head of index solutions and chairman of the MSCI equity index committee, Sebastien Lieblich.
• 
  Technology, Travel and China’s Second Wave 02.07.2020 9m

  From cashless transactions to sophisticated tracking, technology has played a major role as China battles the effects of COVID-19. Xiaoshu Wang from the ESG Research team in Beijing discusses investor reaction and efforts to boost the economy in the wake of a second wave.
• 
  Factor Trends: What’s in? What’s out? 09.07.2020 11m

  Did equity and fixed-income factors perform as expected during the first full quarter of COVID-19’s global spread? Hitendra Varsani, executive director, core equity research, analyzes the results for Q2, and what MSCI’s models showed as the third quarter kicked off.
• 
  The Genomic Age of Medicine Comes to Market 16.07.2020 12m

  Brett Winton, head of reserach at ARK Invest, explains how advancements in genomic technologies combined with artificial intelligence have proven invaluable in the fight against COVID-19 — and the profound implications for human health and investors far beyond the current crisis.
• 
  Beyond Disruption: Investing and Technology Converge 23.07.2020 15m

  Advances in artificial intelligence, machine learning and even user interfaces have radically changed the way investors collect, analyze and interact with data, and how they manage portfolios. In fact, every aspect of the investment process has been affected — and COVID-19 has only increased the pace of change.
• 
  Single-Factor Portfolio Construction 30.07.2020 10m

  We take a look at the latest research around four key elements of single-factor portfolio construction: investment universe selection, factor definition, portfolio breadth and security weighting.