State Street Global Advisors Launches the SPDR Bond Compass

State Street Global Advisors (SSGA), the asset management arm of State Street Corporation (NYSE: STT), announced today the launch of the SPDR Bond Compass, a quarterly publication intended to provide investment professionals with quality data and investment outlooks, which they can use to engage their clients on fixed income investment strategies.

The Bond Compass uses proprietary research from State Street Global Markets, the research and trading division of State Street, and provides unique insight into how investors are positioning their portfolios.

“The overall sense from our metrics is that, despite recent volatility, investors remain cautiously optimistic about growth in the medium term,” commented Michael Metcalfe, global head of Macro strategy for State Street Global Markets. “Bond flows are indicating that investors view inflation as broadly benign and are not currently troubled by the inflationary outlook, a trend confirmed by our online metrics through early October. What we are seeing is a re-assessment of risk and a review of holdings across the curve, but not wholesale protection purchasing. If you add to that some modest buying of credit, the flows seem to indicate that long term investors are not panicking just yet.”

The analysis shows current indicators of investor holdings in a variety of fixed income instruments and overlays buying and selling behaviours from the past quarter. These data points provide deep insight into investor sentiment and allow observers the opportunity to cut through the noise of the market to see the reality of the investor positions beneath. The contrast between existing holdings and recent buying trends enables additional insight into investor outlook for exposure in the future.

“Clients’ use of Fixed Income ETFs continues to expand and investors are increasingly looking for valued-added insights to tailor bond portfolios for the current market,” said Matt Bartolini, head of SPDR Americas Research at State Street Global Advisors. “Throughout the year we have seen investors de-risk credit portfolios, moving from fixed-rate high-yield ETFs to loans, while also shortening duration and adding some principal preservation. As a result short-term government bond ETFs have seen a 59 percent increase in assets. The Bond Compass provides data driven insights our clients need, along with our timely investment outlook and the necessary tools for action.”

State Street Global Advisors manages $376 billion in fixed income assets, managing over 30 currencies across 40 countries and 90 fixed income strategies.

About SPDR Exchange Traded Funds

SPDR ETFs are a comprehensive family spanning an array of international and domestic asset classes. SPDR ETFs are managed by SSGA Funds Management, Inc., a registered investment adviser and wholly owned subsidiary of State Street Corporation. The funds provide investors with the flexibility to select investments that are precisely aligned to their investment strategy. Recognized as an industry pioneer, State Street created the first US listed ETF in 1993 (SPDR S&P 500® – Ticker SPY) and has remained on the forefront of responsible innovation, as evidenced by the introduction of many ground-breaking products, including first-to-market launches with gold, international real estate, international fixed income, and sector ETFs. For more information, visit www.spdrs.com.

About State Street Global Advisors

For nearly four decades, State Street Global Advisors has been committed to helping financial professionals and those who rely on them achieve their investment objectives. We partner with institutions and financial professionals to help them reach their goals through a rigorous, research-driven process spanning both active and index disciplines. We take pride in working closely with our clients to develop precise investment strategies, including our pioneering family of SPDR ETFs. With trillions* in assets under management, our scale and global footprint provide unrivaled access to markets and asset classes, and allow us to deliver expert insights and investment solutions.

State Street Global Advisors is the investment management arm of State Street Corporation.

*Assets under management were $2.67 trillion as of September 30, 2017. AUM reflects approx. $36 billion (as of September 30, 2017) with respect to which State Street Global Advisors Funds Distributors, LLC (SSGA FD) serves as marketing agent; SSGA FD and State Street Global Advisors are affiliated. Please note that AUM totals are unaudited.

Important Risk Information

In general, ETFs can be expected to move up or down in value with the value of the applicable index. Although ETF shares may be bought and sold on the exchange through any brokerage account, ETF shares are not individually redeemable from the Fund.

Investors may acquire ETFs and tender them for redemption through the Fund in Creation Unit Aggregations only. Please see the prospectus for more details.

ETFs trade like stocks, are subject to investment risk, fluctuate in market value and may trade at prices above or below the ETFs net asset value. Brokerage commissions and ETF expenses will reduce returns.

Standard & Poor’s, S&P and SPDR are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, a division of S&P Global (S&P); Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC (Dow Jones); and these trademarks have been licensed for use by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (SPDJI) and sublicensed for certain purposes by State Street Corporation. State Street Corporation’s financial products are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by SPDJI, Dow Jones, S&P, their respective affiliates and third party licensors and none of such parties make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in such product(s) nor do they have any liability in relation thereto, including for any errors, omissions, or interruptions of any index.

Distributor: State Street Global Advisors Funds Distributors, LLC, member FINRA, SIPC, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of State Street Corporation. References to State Street may include State Street Corporation and its affiliates. Certain State Street affiliates provide services and receive fees from the SPDR ETFs.

Before investing, consider the funds’ investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. To obtain a prospectus or summary prospectus which contains this and other information, call 1-866-787-2257 or visit spdrs.com. Read it carefully.

State Street Global Advisors Funds Distributors, LLC, member FINRA, SIPC, 1 Iron Street Boston, MA 02210.

Not FDIC Insured - No Bank Guarantee - May Lose Value

Exp: 10/31/19

2295178.1.1.AM.RTL

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181030005649/en/