HSBC Asset Management argues that diversification has become more regime dependent as stock bond hedges, currencies, commodities and EM exposures behave differently across shocks. It pushes investors away from static 60/40 thinking toward dynamic hedging and selective EM allocations tied to AI, metals and external balance resilience.
Multi-Asset Insights: Building resilience across regimes and regions
HSBC Asset Management
Jean Charles Bertrand
Research
20 Pages
Key Takeaways
Hedges Need Context: Average pairwise multi-asset correlation rose from near 0.10 in 2002 to roughly 0.40 by 2025, weakening simple diversification assumptions.
Metals Drive EM: Since August 2025, precious metals returned 74% and industrial metals returned 24%, highlighting commodities as a structural EM theme.
Chokepoints Still Matter: Roughly 80% of China’s imported crude and 90% of Japan and South Korea’s energy imports pass through the Strait of Malacca.