Investment Objectives
The Fund seeks to provide stable, long-term capital appreciation by investing in a diversified portfolio of local and international bonds, equities and other income-generating assets. The Investment Manager shall diversify the assets of the Fund among different assets classes. The manager may invest in both Investment Grade and High Yield bonds rated at the time of investment at least “B-” by S&P, or in bonds determined to be of comparable quality, provided that the Fund may invest up 10% in non-rated bonds, whilst maintain an exposure to direct rated bonds of at least 25% of the value of the Fund. Investments in equities may include but are not limited to dividend- paying securities, equities, exchange traded funds as well as through the use of Collective Investment Schemes.
The Fund is actively managed, not managed by reference to any index.
The Fund is classified under Article 6 of the SFDR meaning that the investments underlying this financial product do not take into account the EU criteria for environmentally sustainable economic activities.
Investor Profile
A typical investor in the CC Global Balanced Income Fund is:
- Seeking to achieve stable, long-term capital appreciation
- Seeking an actively managed & diversified investment in equities and bonds as well as other income-generating assets of local and international issuers
- Planning to hold their investment for the medium-to-long term
Fund Rules at a Glance
The Investment Manager (“We”) will adopt a flexible investment strategy which, amongst other things, will allow us to modify the asset allocation in line with our macroeconomic, investment and technical outlook.
- We shall invest primarily in a diversified portfolio of listed transferable securities across a wide spectrum of industries and sectors primarily via bonds, equities and eligible ETFs. We may invest in these asset classes either directly or indirectly through UCITS Funds and/ or eligible non UCITS Funds
- We intend to diversify the assets of the Sub-Fund broadly among countries, industries and sectors, but reserve the right to invest a substantial portion of the Sub-Fund’s assets in one or more countries (or regions) if economic and business conditions warrant such investments
- Investments in equity securities may include, but are not limited to, dividend-paying securities, equities, ETFs and preferred shares of global issuers. At our discretion, we may also invest indirectly in equities and equity-related instruments through the use of collective investment schemes. The Sub-Fund will generally, but not exclusively, invest in blue chip issuers listed on Approved Regulated Markets, including equities listed on the Malta Stock Exchange, where applicable
- We shall manage the credit risk and will aim to manage interest rate risk through credit analysis and credit diversity. We may invest in both investment grade (corporate and sovereign) and high yield bonds that have a credit rating of at least “B-” by S&P (or rating equivalent issued by other reputable rating agencies) at the time of investment, provided that the Sub-Fund may invest a maximum of 10% of its assets in non-rated debt securities, including those listed on the Malta Stock Exchange. We will, at all times, maintain an exposure to direct rated bonds, whether investment grade or high yield, of at least 25% of the value of the Sub-Fund
- For temporary or defensive purposes, the Sub-Fund may invest in short-term fixed income instruments, money market funds, cash and cash equivalents. The Sub-Fund may also hold cash and cash equivalents on an ancillary basis or cash management purposes, pending investment in accordance with its Investment Policy and to meet operating expenses and redemption requests. The Sub-Fund may invest in Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”) via UCITS-eligible ETFs and/or CIS and securities related to real assets (including but not limited to real estate, agriculture, and precious metals-related securities) such as equities, bonds, and ETFs as well as CISs as long as these constitute eligible assets under the UCITS Directive
- The Sub-Fund may invest in options, futures and forwards for risk management and hedging purposes only (“Hedging Instruments”)
- Other than any margins required for these Hedging Instruments, the Sub-Fund will not employ leverage
A Quick Introduction to Our Global Balanced Income Fund.
Key Facts & Performance
Fund Manager
Jordan Portelli
Jordan is CIO at CC Finance Group. He has extensive experience in research and portfolio management with various institutions. Today he is responsible of the group’s investment strategy and manages credit and multi-asset strategies.
PRICE (EUR)
€
ASSET CLASS
Mixed
MIN. INITIAL INVESTMENT
€2500
FUND TYPE
UCITS
BASE CURRENCY
EUR
RETURN (SINCE INCEPTION)*
15.53%
*View Performance History below
Inception Date: 19 Nov 2018
ISIN: MT7000023891
Bloomberg Ticker: CCGBIFB MV
Entry Charge: From 0% up to 2.5%
Total Expense Ratio: 2.35%
Exit Charge: None
Distribution Yield (%): 2.00
Underlying Yield (%): N/A
Distribution: 30/11
Total Net Assets: €9.7 mn
Month end NAV in EUR: 10.52
Number of Holdings: 72
Auditors: Deloitte Malta
Legal Advisor: Ganado Advocates
Custodian: Sparkasse Bank Malta p.l.c.
% of Top 10 Holdings: 21.3
Performance To Date (EUR)
Top 10 Holdings
3.5%
2.6%
2.4%
2.0%
1.9%
1.8%
1.8%
1.8%
1.7%
1.7%
Major Sector Breakdown
Financials
24.0%
Communications
10.4%
ETFs
10.0%
Consumer Discretionary
9.5%
Industrials
9.5%

Funds
9.0%
Maturity Buckets
Credit Ratings*
Risk & Reward Profile
Lower Risk
Potentialy Lower Reward
Higher Risk
Potentialy Higher Reward
Top Holdings by Country*
42.2%
7.8%
7.7%
6.7%
6.1%
4.7%
3.7%
3.5%
3.1%
1.9%
Asset Allocation*
Performance History (EUR)*
YTD
3.85%
2022
-12.92%
2021
12.81%
2020
2.52%
2019
14.90%
Annualised Since Inception***
3.01%
Currency Allocation
Interested in this product?
-
Investment Objectives
The Fund seeks to provide stable, long-term capital appreciation by investing in a diversified portfolio of local and international bonds, equities and other income-generating assets. The Investment Manager shall diversify the assets of the Fund among different assets classes. The manager may invest in both Investment Grade and High Yield bonds rated at the time of investment at least “B-” by S&P, or in bonds determined to be of comparable quality, provided that the Fund may invest up 10% in non-rated bonds, whilst maintain an exposure to direct rated bonds of at least 25% of the value of the Fund. Investments in equities may include but are not limited to dividend- paying securities, equities, exchange traded funds as well as through the use of Collective Investment Schemes.
The Fund is actively managed, not managed by reference to any index.
The Fund is classified under Article 6 of the SFDR meaning that the investments underlying this financial product do not take into account the EU criteria for environmentally sustainable economic activities.
-
Investor profile
A typical investor in the CC Global Balanced Income Fund is:
- Seeking to achieve stable, long-term capital appreciation
- Seeking an actively managed & diversified investment in equities and bonds as well as other income-generating assets of local and international issuers
- Planning to hold their investment for the medium-to-long term
-
Fund Rules
The Investment Manager of the CC High Income Bond Funds – EUR and USD has the duty to ensure that the underlying investments of the funds are well diversified. According to the prospectus, the investment manager has to abide by a number of investment restrictions to safeguard the value of the assets
- We shall invest primarily in a diversified portfolio of listed transferable securities across a wide spectrum of industries and sectors primarily via bonds, equities and eligible ETFs. We may invest in these asset classes either directly or indirectly through UCITS Funds and/ or eligible non UCITS Funds
- We intend to diversify the assets of the Sub-Fund broadly among countries, industries and sectors, but reserve the right to invest a substantial portion of the Sub-Fund’s assets in one or more countries (or regions) if economic and business conditions warrant such investments
- Investments in equity securities may include, but are not limited to, dividend-paying securities, equities, ETFs and preferred shares of global issuers. At our discretion, we may also invest indirectly in equities and equity-related instruments through the use of collective investment schemes. The Sub-Fund will generally, but not exclusively, invest in blue chip issuers listed on Approved Regulated Markets, including equities listed on the Malta Stock Exchange, where applicable
- We shall manage the credit risk and will aim to manage interest rate risk through credit analysis and credit diversity. We may invest in both investment grade (corporate and sovereign) and high yield bonds that have a credit rating of at least “B-” by S&P (or rating equivalent issued by other reputable rating agencies) at the time of investment, provided that the Sub-Fund may invest a maximum of 10% of its assets in non-rated debt securities, including those listed on the Malta Stock Exchange. We will, at all times, maintain an exposure to direct rated bonds, whether investment grade or high yield, of at least 25% of the value of the Sub-Fund
- For temporary or defensive purposes, the Sub-Fund may invest in short-term fixed income instruments, money market funds, cash and cash equivalents. The Sub-Fund may also hold cash and cash equivalents on an ancillary basis or cash management purposes, pending investment in accordance with its Investment Policy and to meet operating expenses and redemption requests. The Sub-Fund may invest in Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”) via UCITS-eligible ETFs and/or CIS and securities related to real assets (including but not limited to real estate, agriculture, and precious metals-related securities) such as equities, bonds, and ETFs as well as CISs as long as these constitute eligible assets under the UCITS Directive
- The Sub-Fund may invest in options, futures and forwards for risk management and hedging purposes only (“Hedging Instruments”)
- Other than any margins required for these Hedging Instruments, the Sub-Fund will not employ leverage
-
Commentary
September 2023
Introduction
In September, the conviction in financial markets regarding potential interest rate hikes drove fixed income yields higher and caused a decline in equity markets. The underlying economic conditions seemed to fade as a primary concern, as market momentum clearly shifted towards risk aversion. Despite continued signs of leading macro indicators softening, it can be argued that the global economy is still in relatively good shape compared to initial analyst expectations for the year. This scenario exemplifies how financial markets can sometimes act in complete dissonance to the economic backdrop.
The upward move in yield curves could however derail the current delicate balance in the real economy, as the propensity to lend and leveraging capacity are expected to be impacted in the future, setting up another undesired headwind for economic growth next year. This adds to the challenges faced by consumers, including rising energy prices and diminishing disposable income. However, equity markets appear unfazed, with the recent pullback not indicating significant stress among investors who might still be banking on a soft-landing scenario. The next earnings season which comes, for the first time this year, with expectations of corporate earnings growth compared to last year will be the first reality check of such assumption.
On the monetary front, the Federal Reserve (FED) has paused its rate hikes and signalled fewer rate cuts for the next year, a move widely expected after stating the need for more data to assess the impact on the US economy. Inflation has steadily decreased from its peak in the middle of last year and may reach the FED’s target rate without a significant rise in employment. Meanwhile, in Europe, the European Central Bank (ECB) raised interest rates to their highest level since the launch of the euro. Christine Lagarde hinted that rates may have peaked but indicated that borrowing costs would remain high for as long as necessary to bring inflation down to the 2% target.
Equity markets continued their decline from the previous month, with the technology and consumer discretionary sectors unable to limit their losses. However, this doesn’t necessarily compromise the year-to-date performance of major equity indexes, which still show positive returns, in contrast to bonds, which are in a different position. Even though this situation seems to reflect a classic negative correlation between these two asset classes, it remains challenging to provide a fundamental explanation that reconciles the expectations of asset holders. The emergence of a new financial term like the “Magnificent Seven,” encompassing mega-cap stocks such as Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, Meta Platforms, Nvidia, and Tesla, underscores the perception of these particular stocks as safe havens, an idea that was nearly inconceivable just two years ago. Time will tell whether this calls for a revision of financial textbooks or is simply another potential bubble waiting to burst.
Market Environment and Performance
Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) indicators continued to show signs of weakness amid a second successive contraction in services (reading of 48.7 versus the previous month reading of 47.9) and a continuing downturn in the manufacturing sector (reading of 43.4 versus a previous month reading of 43.5). Despite a notable increase in oil prices, the annual inflation rate in the Euro area declined to 4.3% reaching its lowest level since October 2021. Core inflation eased, dropping to 4.5% from 5.3% in the previous month.
In the U.S. aggregate business activity – while still evolving in expansionary territory – nearly stalled due to a weaker expansion in the services sector (reading of 50.2 vs 50.3 in August), and a sustained contraction in manufacturing (reading of 49.8 vs 47.9 in August). Annual inflation rate in the US remained at 3.7% in September, while core consumer prices eased further to 4.1% from the previous 4.3%.
Equity markets continued their summer funk, with September – a historically a challenging month for stocks – noting negative returns. One of the most significant factors contributing to the decline in equities was the surge in Treasury yields, reaching levels not seen in over two decades. This increase in yields placed greater scrutiny on the valuation of technology stocks. The spotlight now shifts to the upcoming earnings season, as it is expected to provide a clearer direction for the markets in the remainder of the year. The S&P 500 index saw a decline of 2.52%, with support coming from value sectors like energy and financials. In Europe, both the EuroStoxx50 and the DAX experienced losses of 2.85% and 3.51%, respectively, with indiscriminate value erosion across various sectors. Credit markets were significantly affected by the higher yields, leading to primarily negative returns, even in traditionally safe assets like government bonds such as U.S. Treasuries. This resulted in negative returns for specific maturity buckets over the course of the year. High-yield bonds displayed more resilience, influenced by expectations of a low default rate.
Fund performance
In the month of September, the CC Global Balanced Income Fund – largely driven by the somewhat negative sentiment across both equity markets and high yield credit – headed lower, registering a loss of 2.24%.
Within the fixed income space, the Manager continued to take opportunity by re-tapping selective names which do offer value, notably, those which have only recently sought to refinance with coupons now more aligned to the current market environment. Also, allowing to increase the portfolio’s duration in a balanced manner. The manager has over the month increased its exposure to United Group; an alternative telecom provider in Southeast Europe that operates both telecommunications platforms and mass media outlets. In the equity portion, the Manager took an exposure in Amazon, Vinci, Caterpillar, and American multinational corporation engaged in hydrocarbon exploration and production Conoco Phillips. This, while reducing its exposure to industrials and cyclicals.
Market and investment outlook
Looking ahead, the Manager maintains a belief in a softening macroeconomic environment that will eventually bring an end to the current cycle of monetary tightening. Even in the face of unexpected spikes in inflation caused by factors such as commodity prices due to geopolitical tensions, the worst-case scenario seems to be a soft landing, where global economic growth slows down but remains positive. Additionally, the Manager anticipates that new rounds of economic stimulus in the Chinese economy will likely support local consumers and indirectly benefit the global economy. The recent movements in fixed income markets are viewed as an overshoot, which could lead to a more promising performance in equity markets toward the end of the year. In addition to the standard focus on sectors and companies with strong cash flows and attractive valuation metrics, there will be an increased emphasis on mega-cap and technology companies that could benefit from a decrease in bond yields. The unusual market volatility observed over the past three years can be attributed to the negative aftermath of the pandemic era. Hence, the word ‘patience’ should resonate with investors, considering historical trends that ultimately indicate a positive outcome.
-
Key facts & performance
Fund Manager
Jordan Portelli
Jordan is CIO at CC Finance Group. He has extensive experience in research and portfolio management with various institutions. Today he is responsible of the group’s investment strategy and manages credit and multi-asset strategies.
PRICE (EUR)
€
ASSET CLASS
Mixed
MIN. INITIAL INVESTMENT
€2500
FUND TYPE
UCITS
BASE CURRENCY
EUR
RETURN (SINCE INCEPTION)*
15.53%
*View Performance History below
Inception Date: 19 Nov 2018
ISIN: MT7000023891
Bloomberg Ticker: CCGBIFB MV
Entry Charge: From 0% up to 2.5%
Total Expense Ratio: 2.35%
Exit Charge: None
Distribution Yield (%): 2.00
Underlying Yield (%): N/A
Distribution: 30/11
Total Net Assets: €9.7 mn
Month end NAV in EUR: 10.52
Number of Holdings: 72
Auditors: Deloitte Malta
Legal Advisor: Ganado Advocates
Custodian: Sparkasse Bank Malta p.l.c.
% of Top 10 Holdings: 21.3
Performance To Date (EUR)
Risk & Reward Profile
1234567Lower Risk
Potentialy Lower Reward
Higher Risk
Potentialy Higher Reward
Top 10 Holdings
iShares Core S&P 5003.5%
iShares Euro HY Corp2.6%
iShares S&P Health Care2.4%
Apple Inc2.0%
4% Chemours Co 20261.9%
6.75% CSN Islands XI Corp 20281.8%
iShares MSCI EM Asia Acc1.8%
Taiwan Semiconductor1.8%
MSCI World Energy1.7%
4.75% Banco Santander SA perp1.7%
Top Holdings by Country*
USA42.2%
Luxembourg7.8%
Malta7.7%
Germany6.7%
Great Britain6.1%
France4.7%
Brazil3.7%
Global3.5%
Spain3.1%
Japan1.9%
*including exposures to ETFsMajor Sector Breakdown
Financials
24.0%
Communications
10.4%
ETFs
10.0%
Consumer Discretionary
9.5%
Industrials
9.5%
Funds
9.0%
Asset Allocation*
Cash 0.9%Bonds 48.0%Equities 51.1%*including exposures to ETFsMaturity Buckets
24.5%0-5 Years13.9%5-10 Years7.0%10 Years+Performance History (EUR)*
YTD
3.85%
2022
-12.92%
2021
12.81%
2020
2.52%
2019
14.90%
Annualised Since Inception***
3.01%
* Data in the chart does not include any dividends distributed since the Fund was launched on 19 November 2018.** Performance figures are calculated using the Value Added Monthly Index "VAMI" principle. The VAMI calculates the total return gained by an investor from reinvestment of any dividends and additional interest gained through compounding.*** The Distributor Share Class (Class B) was launched on 19 November 2018. The Annualised rate is an indication of the average growth of the Fund over one year. The value of the investment and the income yield derived from the investment, if any, may go down as well as up and past performance is not necessarily indicative of future performance, nor a reliable guide to future performance. Hence returns may not be achieved and you may lose all or part of your investment in the Fund. Currency fluctuations may affect the value of investments and any derived income.**** Returns quoted net of TER. Entry and exit charges may reduce returns for investors.Currency Allocation
Euro 53.6%USD 43.6%GBP 2.8% -
Downloads
Commentary
September 2023
Introduction
In September, the conviction in financial markets regarding potential interest rate hikes drove fixed income yields higher and caused a decline in equity markets. The underlying economic conditions seemed to fade as a primary concern, as market momentum clearly shifted towards risk aversion. Despite continued signs of leading macro indicators softening, it can be argued that the global economy is still in relatively good shape compared to initial analyst expectations for the year. This scenario exemplifies how financial markets can sometimes act in complete dissonance to the economic backdrop.
The upward move in yield curves could however derail the current delicate balance in the real economy, as the propensity to lend and leveraging capacity are expected to be impacted in the future, setting up another undesired headwind for economic growth next year. This adds to the challenges faced by consumers, including rising energy prices and diminishing disposable income. However, equity markets appear unfazed, with the recent pullback not indicating significant stress among investors who might still be banking on a soft-landing scenario. The next earnings season which comes, for the first time this year, with expectations of corporate earnings growth compared to last year will be the first reality check of such assumption.
On the monetary front, the Federal Reserve (FED) has paused its rate hikes and signalled fewer rate cuts for the next year, a move widely expected after stating the need for more data to assess the impact on the US economy. Inflation has steadily decreased from its peak in the middle of last year and may reach the FED’s target rate without a significant rise in employment. Meanwhile, in Europe, the European Central Bank (ECB) raised interest rates to their highest level since the launch of the euro. Christine Lagarde hinted that rates may have peaked but indicated that borrowing costs would remain high for as long as necessary to bring inflation down to the 2% target.
Equity markets continued their decline from the previous month, with the technology and consumer discretionary sectors unable to limit their losses. However, this doesn’t necessarily compromise the year-to-date performance of major equity indexes, which still show positive returns, in contrast to bonds, which are in a different position. Even though this situation seems to reflect a classic negative correlation between these two asset classes, it remains challenging to provide a fundamental explanation that reconciles the expectations of asset holders. The emergence of a new financial term like the “Magnificent Seven,” encompassing mega-cap stocks such as Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, Meta Platforms, Nvidia, and Tesla, underscores the perception of these particular stocks as safe havens, an idea that was nearly inconceivable just two years ago. Time will tell whether this calls for a revision of financial textbooks or is simply another potential bubble waiting to burst.
Market Environment and Performance
Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) indicators continued to show signs of weakness amid a second successive contraction in services (reading of 48.7 versus the previous month reading of 47.9) and a continuing downturn in the manufacturing sector (reading of 43.4 versus a previous month reading of 43.5). Despite a notable increase in oil prices, the annual inflation rate in the Euro area declined to 4.3% reaching its lowest level since October 2021. Core inflation eased, dropping to 4.5% from 5.3% in the previous month.
In the U.S. aggregate business activity – while still evolving in expansionary territory – nearly stalled due to a weaker expansion in the services sector (reading of 50.2 vs 50.3 in August), and a sustained contraction in manufacturing (reading of 49.8 vs 47.9 in August). Annual inflation rate in the US remained at 3.7% in September, while core consumer prices eased further to 4.1% from the previous 4.3%.
Equity markets continued their summer funk, with September – a historically a challenging month for stocks – noting negative returns. One of the most significant factors contributing to the decline in equities was the surge in Treasury yields, reaching levels not seen in over two decades. This increase in yields placed greater scrutiny on the valuation of technology stocks. The spotlight now shifts to the upcoming earnings season, as it is expected to provide a clearer direction for the markets in the remainder of the year. The S&P 500 index saw a decline of 2.52%, with support coming from value sectors like energy and financials. In Europe, both the EuroStoxx50 and the DAX experienced losses of 2.85% and 3.51%, respectively, with indiscriminate value erosion across various sectors. Credit markets were significantly affected by the higher yields, leading to primarily negative returns, even in traditionally safe assets like government bonds such as U.S. Treasuries. This resulted in negative returns for specific maturity buckets over the course of the year. High-yield bonds displayed more resilience, influenced by expectations of a low default rate.
Fund performance
In the month of September, the CC Global Balanced Income Fund – largely driven by the somewhat negative sentiment across both equity markets and high yield credit – headed lower, registering a loss of 2.24%.
Within the fixed income space, the Manager continued to take opportunity by re-tapping selective names which do offer value, notably, those which have only recently sought to refinance with coupons now more aligned to the current market environment. Also, allowing to increase the portfolio’s duration in a balanced manner. The manager has over the month increased its exposure to United Group; an alternative telecom provider in Southeast Europe that operates both telecommunications platforms and mass media outlets. In the equity portion, the Manager took an exposure in Amazon, Vinci, Caterpillar, and American multinational corporation engaged in hydrocarbon exploration and production Conoco Phillips. This, while reducing its exposure to industrials and cyclicals.
Market and investment outlook
Looking ahead, the Manager maintains a belief in a softening macroeconomic environment that will eventually bring an end to the current cycle of monetary tightening. Even in the face of unexpected spikes in inflation caused by factors such as commodity prices due to geopolitical tensions, the worst-case scenario seems to be a soft landing, where global economic growth slows down but remains positive. Additionally, the Manager anticipates that new rounds of economic stimulus in the Chinese economy will likely support local consumers and indirectly benefit the global economy. The recent movements in fixed income markets are viewed as an overshoot, which could lead to a more promising performance in equity markets toward the end of the year. In addition to the standard focus on sectors and companies with strong cash flows and attractive valuation metrics, there will be an increased emphasis on mega-cap and technology companies that could benefit from a decrease in bond yields. The unusual market volatility observed over the past three years can be attributed to the negative aftermath of the pandemic era. Hence, the word ‘patience’ should resonate with investors, considering historical trends that ultimately indicate a positive outcome.