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Applying the Lessons of 2020

Elevated market volatility revealed new solutions for investors.

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Liquidity and Speed Prove Key

Liquidity and Speed Prove Key

The onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 saw institutional investors increasingly turn to ETFs to solve unexpected challenges, according to a new global survey, Managing Market Volatility in 2021: What institutional investors did in 2020 – and what they learned, conducted by Institutional Investor. Of particular note during the most volatile days early in the pandemic was institutional investors’ use of fixed income ETFs when liquidity, price discovery, usage, and transaction costs were pressure points across multiple areas of the bond market – including high yield, investment-grade corporate, emerging markets, and, for a short time, U.S. Treasuries.

It’s worth noting that the timing (Q3 2020) of the survey of 766 institutional investment decision makers at insurers, endowments, family offices, foundations, pensions, and asset management firms means that respondents had been through the worst of the initial disruption caused by the pandemic. This allowed their answers to reflect on both how their portfolios performed in the crunch and how they might plan for the next few years.

Elevated volatility expected to continue

As they look to the next 18 months, 68% of all institutional investors in the survey expect continued heightened volatility, and 65% plan on increasing their use of ETFs – the highest percentage anticipated increase in use of any investment vehicle. Expectations of increased use of ETFs going forward are likely based in large part on how institutional investors used them during the early period of pandemic-related market dislocation.

During that time, fixed income ETFs in particular proved extremely flexible and valuable when 95% of all respondents to the Institutional Investor survey said they had difficulty sourcing new bonds, and that individual bond transactions were also a pain point (92%). In response to these challenges, investors said their organizations increased use of fixed income ETFs as a means to source and price bonds and to execute trades (54%).1 ETFs were a good replacement for individual bonds, according to respondents, because they are liquid (61%)2 and they provide quick market exposure and access (55%).3

“Early in the pandemic, bond markets experienced unprecedented volatility, dislocation, and challenges in liquidity. During the worst of the market turmoil in February and March 2020, we saw fixed income indices become central to the decision-making process for a growing number of institutional investors. Indices such as CDX, and index-based ETFs such as LQD and HYG, remained highly liquid and played an important role in providing price discovery to the market. We continue to see increased demand in portfolio construction as a quick way for investment managers to get their beta4 exposure in addition to cash and liquidity management,” said Frans Scheepers, Managing Director, Indices, IHS Markit.

At the outset of pandemic-related financial stress, trading in U.S. fixed income ETFs surged to $1.3 trillion in the first quarter of 2020 – half of the $2.6 trillion for all of 2019.5 In many cases, institutional investors found ETFs provided more liquidity, greater transparency, and lower transaction costs than the underlying bond market.

“Toward the end of 2019, using ETFs to implement our credit strategy in investment-grade and conservative duration and risk positions became a more viable option for us. I spent a lot of time getting comfortable with the risks and liquidity of ETFs,” said one portfolio manager who took part in the survey. “The early months of the pandemic presented some case studies in how they reacted in a less than ideal liquidity environment. Coming out of that, we have significant balances to invest in that bucket of the portfolio – cash and, in the medium term, fixed income. That’s where we see the most opportunity to expand our ETF usage going forward.”

ETFs also key tool in rebalancing portfolios

Ninety percent of all respondents to the Institutional Investor global survey rebalanced their portfolios within six months of the onset of pandemic-related volatility. That in itself isn’t especially unexpected – there’s nothing like a severe shock to reveal where a portfolio has strayed from its intentions, perhaps having taken on more unpaid risk or excess correlation than realized.

More revealing, however, was the extent to which investors rely on ETFs during the rebalancing process. The survey found that 70%6 of investors use ETFs when attempting to get their asset mix back in line with their investment guidelines. That percentage far outpaced the next two preferred methods of rebalancing, namely use of mutual funds and derivatives, both at 51%.7

Download “Liquidity and Speed Prove Key in Market Uncertainty,” the first chapter of Managing Market Volatility in 2021: What institutional investors did in 2020 – and what they learned.




1 Of 762 respondents

2 Of 671 respondents

3 Of 671 respondents

4 Beta is the return generated from a portfolio that can be attributed to overall market returns.

5 BlackRock, Bloomberg (as of May 31, 2020)

6 Of 692 respondents

7 Of 692 respondents. The question asked respondents to select all that applied among ETFs, mutual funds, derivatives, commingled pooled funds, individual fixed income and equities securities, and increased cash position.



FOR U.S. INVESTOR USE ONLY.

Carefully consider the Funds’ investment objectives, risk factors, and charges and expenses before investing. This and other information can be found in the Funds’ prospectuses or, if available, the summary prospectuses which may be obtained by visiting www.iShares.com or www.blackrock.com. Read the prospectus carefully before investing.

Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal.

Fixed income risks include interest-rate and credit risk. Typically, when interest rates rise, there is a corresponding decline in bond values. Credit risk refers to the possibility that the bond issuer will not be able to make principal and interest payments. Non-investment-grade debt securities (high-yield/junk bonds) may be subject to greater market fluctuations, risk of default or loss of income and principal than higher-rated securities.

International investing involves risks, including risks related to foreign currency, limited liquidity, less government regulation and the possibility of substantial volatility due to adverse political, economic or other developments. These risks often are heightened for investments in emerging/developing markets and in concentrations of single countries. Funds that concentrate investments in specific industries, sectors, markets or asset classes may underperform or be more volatile than other industries, sectors, markets or asset classes and the general securities market.

Transactions in shares of ETFs may result in brokerage commissions and will generate tax consequences. All regulated investment companies are obliged to distribute portfolio gains to shareholders. There can be no assurance that an active trading market for shares of an ETF will develop or be maintained.

Shares of ETFs may be bought and sold throughout the day on the exchange through any brokerage account. Shares are not individually redeemable from an ETF, however, shares may be redeemed directly from an ETF by Authorized Participants, in very large creation/redemption units.

This information should not be relied upon as research, investment advice, or a recommendation regarding any products, strategies, or any security in particular. This material is strictly for illustrative, educational, or informational purposes and is subject to change.

The iShares and BlackRock Funds are distributed by BlackRock Investments, LLC (together with its affiliates, “BlackRock”).

This study was sponsored by BlackRock. BlackRock is not affiliated with Institutional Investor or any of their affiliates.

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