State Street GA and Barclays research arm join forces to build active systematic bond funds

State Street Global Advisors, the asset management business of State Street Corporation, has started a collaboration with Barclays' Research business through which State Street Global Advisors will develop and manage a suite of active systematic fixed income strategies.

By combining the disciplined portfolio management strength of State Street Global Advisors with the research strength of Barclays QPS, the collaboration will play to the core strengths of both institutions, enabling investors to benefit from innovative systematic fixed income strategies, according to the statement on 13 October. 

Through the collaboration, State Street Global Advisors will develop and manage investment products and strategies, leveraging data sourced from systematic strategy indices created by Barclays Quantitative Portfolio Strategy (Barclays QPS) team. 

Matthew Steinaway, chief investment officer - fixed Income, cash and currency at State Street Global Advisors said: "By collaborating with Barclays' QPS team, we will be able to create a suite of active fixed income products that leverage the strengths of our respective organizations and speak to the future of fixed income.

"Over the past decade, fixed income securities have traded more efficiently and with greater liquidity. Nearly half the respondents in our recently published Future of Fixed Income report believe that increasingly efficient markets are making it harder for active strategies to add value."

Against this backdrop, systematic fixed income strategies and products - in which alpha is driven by intensive data analysis used to uncover mis-pricings - offer a compelling alternative for investors seeking active outcomes in fixed income, and are poised for growth.

State Street Global Advisors' The Future of Fixed Income report found that 91% of institutional investors had an appetite to use systematic fixed income strategies over the next 12 months, with investment grade and high yield corporate credit among the most attractive segments.

"We are delighted to be collaborating with State Street Global Advisors on this innovative approach," said Jeff Meli, head of research at Barclays. "By combining the disciplined portfolio management strength of State Street Global Advisors with the research strength of Barclays QPS, the collaboration will play to the core strengths of both institutions, enabling investors to benefit from innovative systematic fixed income strategies."