Fixed income

Dynamic Allocation. Absolute Flexibility.

Uncertainty is expected to remain heightened. Flexible fixed income strategies may offer a counterbalance.

2026: Anything but simple

While we continue to weigh the impact of evolving tariffs on the global economy, market volatility is likely to remain heightened. The recent de-escalation in the trade war between China and the US has provided some relief; however, even the lower levels of tariffs look unlikely to alleviate slowing US growth this year. Moreover, tariffs have added complications to the policy environment by boosting US inflation, leaving the US Federal Reserve between a rock and a hard place. Add geopolitical tensions to the picture and 2026 is looking to be a continuation of last year.

Source: BNP Paribas Asset Management as of January 2026. Any views expressed here are those of the author as of the date of publication, based on available information, and subject to change without notice. This material does not constitute investment advice. No information given or any term used herein shall be interpreted to provide such a guarantee or protection. Past performance and any economic and market trends are not indicative of future performance.

Global Absolute Return Bond strategy – the solution

Flexible & dynamic approach

Enhanced risk-return profile

Focus on capital preservation

What is our portfolio manager saying?

James McAlevey, Head of Global Aggregate and Absolute Return at BNP Paribas Asset Management, explains how his award-winning team empowers investors to utilise ongoing unpredictability to potentially achieve positive absolute returns while mitigate downside risk.

What’s driving the heightened interest in absolute return
bond strategies?

Learn how we manage our unconstrained bond strategy
differently from traditional fixed income strategies. ​

What major market changes have happened recently?

Find out what sectors and asset classes we prefer in response
to changing market conditions. ​

What trends do you foresee shaping the future of absolute return
strategies?

Learn how our multi-directional strategy is well-positioned to
benefit from opportunities across global fixed income. ​

What sets your investment approach apart from peers? ​

As an award-winning fixed income team, we do things a little
different. Discover more. ​

Keen to learn more?

What is absolute return bond strategy investing?

Global Absolute Return Bond strategy seeks to capture attractive risk-adjusted opportunities across global fixed income markets while smoothing the path of returns.

Awards

These awards validate our fixed income expertise and our commitment to fixed income excellence.  

2024 Benchmark Fund of the Year Awards for Global Absolute Return Category1 

2026 Best of the Best Awards for Global Absolute Return (3 years)2 

For details, including judging methodology, please refer to the official award website. BNP Paribas Asset Management did not pay an entry fee for the Benchmark award. Trademark, copyright, and other intellectual property rights are and remain the property of their respective owners.

Meet the team

Our global absolute return bond strategy is actively managed by James McAlevey, Head of Global Aggregate and Absolute Return. Based in London, James has more than 26 years’ investment experience across multi-strategy fixed income and interest rates portfolios.3

James and the Absolute Return team are part of BNP Paribas’ Global Fixed Income investment group.4 They collaborate with the investment group’s various teams to generate the best ideas across an unconstrained multi-sector fixed income universe. They also benefit from access to firmwide resources including our dedicated Sustainability Centre, Quantitative Research Group and Macro Research team.

  • James McAlevey

    Head of Global Aggregate and Absolute Return

  • Jayesh Mistry

    Senior Portfolio Manager

  • Gaetan Fenerol

    Gaetan Fenerol

    Portfolio Manager

  • Jamie Irvine

    Portfolio Manager

  • Heyuan Qian

    Heyuan Qian

    Junior Portfolio Manager

  • Vicky Browne

    Vicky Brown

    Investment Specialist, Global Aggregate & Absolute Return

Global Income Bond Strategy

Gain stable income amidst uncertainty

[1] “2024 Benchmark Fund of the Year Awards”, reflects the performance of BNP Paribas Global Absolute Return Bond Classic EUR Cap from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024.
[2] “Best of the Best Awards 2026 for Global Absolute Return (3 years)” reflects the performance of BNP Paribas Absolute Return Bond as of 30 September 2025. 
[3,4] BNP Paribas Asset Management, as of 31 January 2026.

Important information

This material is issued and has been prepared by BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Asia Limited with its registered office at Suite 1701, 17/F, Lincoln House, Taikoo Place, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong. This material has not been reviewed by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission. It is produced for information purposes only and does not constitute:

  1. an offer to buy nor a solicitation to sell, nor shall it form the basis of or be relied upon in connection with any contract or commitment whatsoever or
  2. investment advice.

Investors considering subscribing for the financial instruments should read the most recent prospectus, offering document or other information for further details including the risk factors available from your local BNPP AM correspondents, if any, or from the entities marketing the Financial Instrument(s). Investors should consult their own professional advisors in respect of investment, legal, accounting, domicile and tax advice prior to investing in the funds in order to make an independent determination of the suitability of the consequences of an investment. Investments involve risks. The value of investments and the income they generate may go down as well as up and it is possible that investors will not recover their initial investment. Past performance is not a guide to future performance.

Some of the services listed on this Website may not be available for offer to retail investors.

Past performance or achievement is not indicative of current or future performance. Performance is calculated net of fees unless otherwise stated.

Any views expressed here are those of the author as of the date of publication, based on available information, and subject to change without notice. This material does not constitute investment advice.

Investments are subject to market fluctuations and the risks inherent in investments in securities. The value of investments and the income they generate may go down as well as up and it is possible that investors will not recover their initial investment. There is no guarantee that the performance objective will be achieved.

Fixed income sub-funds may be exposed to other risks defined below:

CAPITAL LOSS RISK: The value of the investments in Financial Instrument(s) and the returns generated by the described funds may go down as well as up. Investors may not get back the amount they originally invested.

INTEREST RATE RISK: The value of an investment may be affected by interest rate fluctuations. Interest rates may be influenced by several elements or events, such as monetary policy, the discount rate, inflation, etc.

CREDIT RISK: This is the risk that may derive from the rating downgrade of a bond issuer to which the sub-funds are exposed, which may therefore cause the value of the investments to go down. Sub-funds investing in high-yield bonds present a higher than average risk due to the greater fluctuation of their currency or the quality of the issuer.

COUNTERPARTY RISK: This risk relates to the quality or the default of the counterparty with which the Management Company negotiates, in particular involving payment for/delivery of financial instruments and the signing of agreements involving forward financial instruments. This risk is associated with the ability of the counterparty to fulfil its commitments (for example: payment, delivery and reimbursement). This risk also relates to efficient portfolio management techniques and instruments. If counterparty does not live up to its contractual obligations, it may affect investor returns.

ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE (ESG) INVESTMENT RISK: The lack of common or harmonized definitions and labels integrating ESG and sustainability criteria at EU level may result in different approaches by managers when setting ESG objectives. This also means that it may be difficult to compare strategies integrating ESG and sustainability criteria to the extent that the selection and weightings applied to select investments may be based on metrics that may share the same name but have different underlying meanings. In evaluating a security based on the ESG and sustainability criteria, the Investment Manager may also use data sources provided by external ESG research providers. Given the evolving nature of ESG, these data sources may for the time being be incomplete, inaccurate or unavailable. Applying responsible business conduct standards in the investment process may lead to the exclusion of securities of certain issuers. Consequently, the Sub-Fund’s performance may at times be better or worse than the performance of relatable funds that do not apply such standards.

This is not an exhaustive list of risks. For a full description of risks associated with each fund, please consult a client relationship manager or the global BNP Paribas Asset Management website: staging.bnpparibas-am.co.uk.

The sub-fund may be exposed to other risks defined below.

Capital loss risk: The investments are subject to market fluctuations and the risks inherent in investments in securities. The value of investments and the income they generate may go down as well as up and it is possible that investors will not recover their initial outlay.

Interest rate risk: The value of an investment may be affected by interest rate fluctuations. Interest rates may be influenced by several elements or events, such as monetary policy, the discount rate, inflation, etc.

Credit risk: This is the risk that may derive from the rating downgrade of a bond issuer to which the sub-funds are exposed, which may therefore cause the value of the investments to go down. Sub-funds investing in high-yield bonds present a higher-than-average risk due to the greater fluctuation of their currency or the quality of the issuer.

Liquidity risk: There is a risk that investments made in sub-funds may become illiquid due to an over-restricted market (often reflected by a very broad bid-ask spread or by substantial price movements), or if their rating declines or their economic situation deteriorates.

Derivatives risks: Risks include the lack of secondary market liquidity, valuation risks, the lack of standardisation and regulation, the risk of leverage, the risk of the counterparty.

Counterparty risk: This risk relates to the quality of the counterparty with whom the funds do business or enter into various transactions. This risk reflects the counterparty s ability to honour its commitments (payment, delivery, repayment, etc).

Operational and Custody Risk: Some markets are less regulated than most of the international markets; hence, the services related to custody and liquidation for the subfund on such markets could be more risky

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