Journal of Investment Strategies
ISSN:
2047-1238 (print)
2047-1246 (online)
Editor-in-chief: Ali Hirsa

Exploring the equity–bond relationship in a low-rate environment with unsupervised learning
Need to know
- k-means clustering can shed light on the equity-bond relationship.
- The results show that government bonds have acted as equity shock absorbers.
- There are periods in which both asset classes fall but these are different from recurrent market “states”.
Abstract
Some investors have become concerned about the low-interest-rate environment and its impact on the role that bonds play in a multi-asset portfolio. In order to analyze the equity hedging property of government bonds, we apply a simple but powerful machine learning technique called k-means clustering to periods with low interest rates. Our findings show that government bonds have historically acted as intended in an equity–bond portfolio, with typically positive bond performance in equity-down scenarios. Although there are some periods in which both equities and bonds fall, these can be viewed as ordinary parts of market volatility and distinct from the typical outcomes that can be considered as recurrent market states. The results of this alternative and complementary approach – which has not, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, been used before to study equity–bond diversification benefits – supplement the existing literature by providing further evidence of the added value that bonds bring to a strategic multi-asset portfolio.
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Copyright Infopro Digital Limited. All rights reserved.
You may share this content using our article tools. Copying this content is for the sole use of the Authorised User (named subscriber), as outlined in our terms and conditions - https://www.infopro-insight.com/terms-conditions/insight-subscriptions/
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