Abenomics may be looking to modernise Japanese society and economy, but a number of its more innovative companies have been implementing changes for some time

Absolute return fixed income funds tend to be unconstrained by benchmarks and therefore offer managers the flexibility to outperform, but investors need to be aware of the different strategies

Allocating to high yield still makes sense but investors must ensure that the philosophy and track records of their managers match their own requirements

Frontier markets present numerous opportunities but the number of specialists dedicated to the asset class is limited, as are the strategies available to investors

Successful fund managers invariably attract inflows into their products, but an expanding asset base can throw up a whole rage of problems for these individuals

The size and diversity of global fixed income markets can be confusing for investors, but when looking for managers they should seek those who combine top-down and bottom-up approaches in their funds

Both top-down and bottom-up analysis are key when considering allocations to emerging market corporate bonds, while investors should tread carefully when it comes to high yield

Private banks following the guided architecture approach face a number of challenges when selecting fund groups, but both sides must be fully transparent and work together if the relationship is to prosper