Canterbury Consulting Hosts 2016 Annual Investment Forum 'Navigating Divergent Global Markets'
NEWPORT BEACH, CA, January 11, 2016 (Newswire.com) - Canterbury Consulting, a leading investment advisory firm, hosted its 2016 Annual Investment Forum on January 7, 2016, which featured prominent experts providing exclusive forecasts and insights on critical topics, including cycles of investor behavior, global fixed income markets, macro diversification, and the impact of world and U.S. political environments on strategic investments.
“At Canterbury, we take great pride in hosting our clients at our Annual Investor Forum, as it has consistently presented them with an opportunity to hear from global leaders in the investment management industry, while creating an environment in which trustees and asset owners alike can network and collaborate on common challenges,” said Debashis Chowdhury, President, Canterbury Consulting. “The Investor Forum is one of many ways in which we provide our clients with valuable opportunities and knowledge.”
Keynote speakers at the event were Howard Marks, Co-Chairman of Oaktree Capital; Jeffrey Gundlach, Chief Executive and Chief Investment Officer of DoubleLine Capital; Greg Valliere, Chief Political Strategist at Horizon Investments; and Brian Singer, Head of Dynamic Allocation Strategies for William Blair & Company. A common theme throughout all presentations was the level of uncertainty in world and U.S. economic and political environments, with each speaker offering strategic insights for managing investments in unstable times.
“The swing in attitudes toward risk is a common thread that runs through many of the market’s fluctuations,” said Howard Marks, Co-Chairman of Oaktree Capital, speaking about investor behavior. “Risk aversion is the essential ingredient in a rational market, and the position of the pendulum with regard to risk aversion is particularly important.”
Marks observed that the world’s geopolitical climate today is more uncertain than at any point in his lifetime. The resulting market uncertainty requires a decision on whether “to play offense or defense” in constructing portfolios, and Marks said that Oaktree Capital has adopted a guiding principal to “move forward with caution.”
Jeffrey Gundlach, CEO and CIO of DoubleLine Capital, spoke about global fixed income markets and highlighted nominal GDP figures and manufacturing indices, and the uncertainties found within each. Gundlach said that markets would remain unsettled “until the Fed backs away from its ‘four hikes in 2016’ rhetoric.”
Greg Valliere, Chief Political Strategist at Horizon Investments, discussed the current political environment’s role in the global investment market, and noted that candidates for both U.S. parties had potentially negative market influences, mostly caused by uncertainty.
"This will be the most interesting political campaign of our lifetimes – with a growing likelihood of a brokered Republican convention and the threat that scandals could transform the race," said Valliere.
Brian Singer, Head of Dynamic Allocation Strategies at William Blair & Company, further explored the effects of politics on market uncertainty during his presentation on macro diversification.
“Populism is a complication that has allowed and will increasingly allow geopolitical developments to propagate beyond national borders and through capital markets,” said Singer.
Following the keynote presentations, the more than 200 attendees of 2016 Investment Forum had the opportunity to participate in roundtable discussions led by senior professionals from Canterbury Consulting on several topics, including the Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act (UPMIFA) and enhancing board and committee effectiveness; audit and managing communication to the board; and family governance and educating the next generation. Attendees said they found the presentations, roundtables, and networking opportunities valuable.
“I thought Canterbury’s Investment Forum was a candid, forthright presentation by very knowledgeable industry professionals, who really crystallized the current state of economic conditions throughout the world,” said attendee Harold Davidson, Trustee, Orthopaedic Institute for Children Foundation, Los Angeles, and Past Chairman of the Board, Junior Blind of America. “The diversity of speakers was particularly good, especially in their areas of expertise. They laid out a clear profile of where we are and where they think we are headed in the world economies.”
CONTACT:
Katie Sullivan
KSullivan@CanterburyConsulting.com
949-718-2219
James Chisum
JamesC@millergeer.com
562-493-6023
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About Canterbury Consulting
Canterbury Consulting is a leading investment advisory firm overseeing more than $16 billion for foundations, endowments, and families. Founded in 1988, the company designs and manages custom investment programs aligned with each client’s goals. Canterbury acts as the investment office for its diverse clients and provides objective investment advice, asset allocation, manager selection, risk management, implementation, and performance measurement. Canterbury Consulting strives to deliver performance and service that exceeds the needs and expectations of its clients. Learn more about Canterbury Consulting at www.canterburyconsulting.com.