Special Reports provide in-depth FT coverage of countries around the world, as well as industries from tech to luxury and themes ranging from workplace health to entrepreneurship.

Managing Climate Change

As world leaders gather for the COP29 UN climate conference in Azerbaijan in November 2024, the Financial Times will publish a special report to assess global progress towards climate goals. At last year’s negotiations, countries agreed to shift away from fossil fuels and yet – even as emissions continue to rise – some companies and governments are pulling back on green targets. 

This report will publish on November 11, looking in-depth at the most pressing matters on the agenda at COP, such as prospects for a new climate finance deal and for phasing out unabated coal power, plus: in a year of important elections, what the results could mean for climate action; heavy industry’s efforts to decarbonise; tackling biodiversity loss; and reasons to be optimistic, including the exciting innovations transforming the clean energy landscape.

We plan to include the following features (please note that this list is provisional):

Overview. 

What to expect at COP29, and prospects for a new agreement to replace the $100bn a year climate finance target that the rich world missed.

Opinion: Should petrostates be allowed to host COPs? 

Carbon Credits. 

Yet again, this COP will try to finalise details of country-to-country carbon credit trading. Is it ever really going to work?

The New US President. 

Where is the US energy transition headed, depending on who wins the November election? 

China. 

How China’s climate diplomacy might be changing as it leverages its renewables boom

India. 

The third biggest emitter, after China and the US, is making painfully slow progress on decarbonisation. Why?

Latin America. 

Several Latin American countries are facing a crisis because of over-reliance on hydro power at a time of ever more serious droughts caused by climate change. What’s the solution?

Loss and Damage. 

As climate extremes become more frequent and deadly, will this COP be able to pin down the details of a loss and damage fund to help poorer countries deal with the impacts of climate change?

The Other COP. 

The COP16 biodiversity conference will take place just before COP29 in Cal, Colombia. What's on the agenda and are these COPs making any better progress than their better known climate cousins?

Information

■ Recently published FT Special Reports can be viewed at www.ft.com/specialreports 

A full list of published reports can be viewed at http://www.ft.com/reports/library Forthcoming FT Special Reports and their synopsis can be downloaded via the 

Future Reports link on the www.ft.com/specialreports page. 

For website assistance please call + (0) 20 7775 6297.

This editorial synopsis must not be amended in any way by anyone other than the Editor of Special Reports. 

All submissions or suggestions for editorial features should be sent to reports@ft.com 

This is to ensure all suggestions can be assessed and to enable the editorial team to cope with the huge volume of approaches that would otherwise stop them from doing their work. Due to the volume of approaches the editorial team are unable to confirm receipt or respond to all enquiries. 

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Best Employers Asia-Pacific

The Financial Times proposes to publish this Special Report on 14 November 2024.

We plan to include the following pieces of content (please note this list is provisional):

Japan and Long Hours

Once famed for its long-hours culture, the country is changing its ways. How is it happening, and what effect is it having on productivity? 

South Korea and Mental Health

High-profile cases have exposed some companies’ failure to care for their employees’ mental health. But could a culture change be afoot? 

And which businesses are leading the way?

Labour Market Liquidity and Reskilling in Japan

With a tight labour market, employers are having to hire and train older workers to maintain productivity. We look at the pitfalls and opportunities this creates for both sides.  

Australia

The country has some of the most expensive childcare in the OECD, according to its own competition and consumer law watchdog. Despite government policies aimed at remedying the problem, the expense of childcare is both making it harder for employers to recruit the talent they need, and jeopardising efforts to bring more women into the workforce, especially at more senior levels. We look at how employers are responding, and at which policies – creches, subsidies, flexible hours, etc – are working best. 

China

A new generation of factories relies not on practically limitless cheap labour but on workers operating alongside armies of robots. We look at how companies are training their staff to work in this novel environment. 

India

The country has long struggled with discrimination based on caste and religion – and, according to DEI officers, these remain a huge barrier to advancement, with companies falling way short of what needs to be done. One reason many cite is that too many companies simply cut-and-paste their DEI policies from the west, where caste and religion are less of an issue, whereas what is needed are homegrown policies based on deep knowledge of how caste works in practice. We look at how India’s rising generation of managers and HR experts is trying to do things differently. 

Information

■ Recently published FT Special Reports can be viewed at www.ft.com/specialreports 

A full list of published reports can be viewed at http://www.ft.com/reports/library Forthcoming FT Special Reports and their synopsis can be downloaded via the 

Future Reports link on the www.ft.com/specialreports page. 

For website assistance please call + (0) 20 7775 6297.

This editorial synopsis must not be amended in any way by anyone other than the Editor of Special Reports. 

All submissions or suggestions for editorial features should be sent to reports@ft.com 

This is to ensure all suggestions can be assessed and to enable the editorial team to cope with the huge volume of approaches that would otherwise stop them from doing their work. Due to the volume of approaches the editorial team are unable to confirm receipt or respond to all enquiries. 

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Plastics and Chemicals

The Financial Times proposes to publish this FT Report on November 25, 2024

Plastics and chemicals suppliers, and the companies that use their products, face several significant challenges in making their businesses more future-proof and sustainable - and reducing the negative impacts they have on human and animal health. This special report will address 6 of them:

Environmental Impact and Waste Management

Plastics contribute significantly to environmental pollution, particularly in oceans where they harm marine life. The challenge is to develop effective waste management and recycling systems to reduce plastic waste and prevent it entering food chains. Manufacturers must innovate to create biodegradable or easily recyclable plastics, while users need to adopt and support sustainable consumption practices. We look at how waste is being dealt with in different countries.

Transitioning to Sustainable Production

The production of plastics and chemicals often involves the use of non-renewable resources, such as petroleum and natural gas. Transitioning to sustainable production methods, such as using bio-based feedstocks or incorporating circular economy principles, is essential. But this requires significant investment in new technologies and infrastructure. We ask how manufacturers and users are embracing sustainable practices to reduce their carbon footprints.

Microplastics: The Health Hazards for Humans

On average, people now consume around 5 grammes of microplastics a week without knowing — ingesting it in food and drink and inhaling it from polluted air — according to academics at Rutgers University. And the risk is that these microplastics enter cells and interfere with cell nuclei, which raises concerns about potential DNA damage. Italian scientists have even found tiny plastic particles from various sources in human placentas collected from six women with normal pregnancies. Health experts agree that microplastic ingestion has to be prevented, but how can it be when so many industries depend on the material? Solutions range from regulatory bans, as in Europe, to the use of seaweed-based substitutes. Which will work? 

Oceans Full of Plastic

According to Unesco, more than one million seabirds and 100,000 marine animals - including sea lions, seals, and turtles - are killed by plastic pollution every year. Plastic can affect marine species in a variety of ways, from entanglement and injury to ingestion and toxic contamination. The major determining factor is the size of the plastic, which can adversely affect different species in different ways – and on different timescales. In one case in 2019, a whale died from gastric shock after ingesting 40kg of plastic bags. Without drastic action, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) projects that the amount of plastic produced yearly will triple by 2060. Prevention, monitoring, reducing marine litter, and spreading awareness are among the approaches being used to stop more material entering the ocean. But how much progress is being made?

Bioplastics - A Viable Alternative?

As recycling difficulties persist, demand for biodegradable plastic substitutes is increasing - and some businesses are turning to seaweed as an alternative. New York-based Loliware raised $6mn last year to make biodegradable straws and other alternatives for single-use plastics. London-based Notpla has partnered with food delivery company Just Eat Takeaway to make biodegradable packaging from seaweed. Other materials derived from corn or potatoes have also been tried in bioplastics. Sugar cane bioplastics made an impact in Brazil more than a decade ago. But these sources require more land and fresh water — two ingredients that are not a problem with seaweed.

The Fast Fashion Challenge

The fashion industry’s size and its chemical- and water-intensive manufacturing processes, together with its reliance on synthetic materials and non-renewable energy, mean its negative impact on the environment is immense. In some parts of the world, unwanted and discarded clothing items are overwhelming landfills and choking waterways. We ask what can be done to make the industry less chemical and synthetics reliant. 

Information

■ Recently published FT Special Reports can be viewed at www.ft.com/specialreports 

A full list of published reports can be viewed at http://www.ft.com/reports/library Forthcoming FT Special Reports and their synopsis can be downloaded via the 

Future Reports link on the www.ft.com/specialreports page. 

For website assistance please call + (0) 20 7775 6297.

This editorial synopsis must not be amended in any way by anyone other than the Editor of Special Reports. 

All submissions or suggestions for editorial features should be sent to reports@ft.com 

This is to ensure all suggestions can be assessed and to enable the editorial team to cope with the huge volume of approaches that would otherwise stop them from doing their work. Due to the volume of approaches the editorial team are unable to confirm receipt or respond to all enquiries. 

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FT Business Education:  

European Business Schools

The Financial Times proposes to publish this Special Report on December 02, 2024.

We plan to include the following pieces of content (please note that this list is provisional):

Introduction

An analysis of the FT ranking of leading European business schools and trends in the sector.

The Rankings

The 2024 rankings of European Business schools, plus school profiles, key and methodology.

Political Impact

How political changes in the UK, France and Germany, including backlashes against immigration, are affecting their appeal as study destinations for international business students and impacting European business schools. How are business schools responding?

Interview

An in-depth interview with a graduate about their studies and what it has meant for their career. 

Green Shoots

Europe, especially the Nordic and northern regions, is widey seen as leading the way on sustainability in business education. Is this a draw for international students? How do green curricula at European business schools compare with other parts of the world, where sustainability can be a lower priority for schools, businesses or governments? 

Need to Knows

Despite the raft of EU-wide rules, studying at a European business school can be a very different experience depending on where it is based. We talk to admissions tutors, faculty and international students to get their advice on what applicants should consider regarding visa requirements, cultural differences, language proficiency, health insurance, part-time working and other factors. 

Teaching Case Study

The latest in a series of business school-style case studies exploring decisions and dilemmas facing executives. What would you do in their shoes? 

Data Feature

FT ranking specialists explore trends in European Business Schools, illustrated by charts.

Professor’s Column

A business school professor shares thoughts and research on challenges facing business today. 

Technology

An FT tech specialist explores developments that will affect business and our working lives. 

In Real Life

A graduate explains what it was like to take a business education programme and what it has meant for their career, in their own words.  

Information

■ Recently published FT Special Reports can be viewed at www.ft.com/specialreports 

A full list of published reports can be viewed at http://www.ft.com/reports/library Forthcoming FT Special Reports and their synopsis can be downloaded via the 

Future Reports link on the www.ft.com/specialreports page. 

For website assistance please call + (0) 20 7775 6297.

This editorial synopsis must not be amended in any way by anyone other than the Editor of Special Reports. 

All submissions or suggestions for editorial features should be sent to reports@ft.com 

This is to ensure all suggestions can be assessed and to enable the editorial team to cope with the huge volume of approaches that would otherwise stop them from doing their work. 

Due to the volume of approaches the editorial team are unable to confirm receipt or respond to all enquiries. 

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Scoreboard:  

The Business of Sport

The Financial Times proposes to publish this FT Report on 03 December 2024

We plan to include the following features (please note that this list is provisional):

Profile: Two Circles -  British Success Story

The rapidly growing UK company helping the world of sport navigate the digital world 

Robo Umpires - How far can they go?

Technology is changing how sports are judged, from automated offsides to AI line judges. How far can the robots go? 

Can the America’s Cup get with the Times? 

Can the sport replicate F1's success in terms of building its commercial appeal and reaching a broader demographic eg gaining younger fans? 

2025: Watershed Year for Women’s Rugby?

As the World Cup comes to England, can the tournament do for women’s rugby what the Euros do for football?

Can a Tech Entrepreneur hack Nigerian Football?

Shola Akinlade sold his company Paystack to Stripe for more than $200mn in 2020. He could've walked off into the sunset but instead, he formed a new football team in Nigeria, which, within two years, climbed to the country's top flight. 

TKO - The Sports Business Winning Big with Gen Z

Understanding the appeal of combat sports to Gen Z, their growing audiences, and the resulting commercial opportunities for brands and sponsors. 

IOC Presidential Race: What is at Stake

Who are the runners? What challenges do they face? 

The Rise of the F1 Female Fan

How the growth of women watching F1 opened the door to a range of new commercial opportunities.

Information

■ Recently published FT Special Reports can be viewed at www.ft.com/specialreports 

A full list of published reports can be viewed at http://www.ft.com/reports/library Forthcoming FT Special Reports and their synopsis can be downloaded via the 

Future Reports link on the www.ft.com/specialreports page. 

For website assistance please call + (0) 20 7775 6297.

This editorial synopsis must not be amended in any way by anyone other than the Editor of Special Reports. 

All submissions or suggestions for editorial features should be sent to reports@ft.com 

This is to ensure all suggestions can be assessed and to enable the editorial team to cope with the huge volume of approaches that would otherwise stop them from doing their work. Due to the volume of approaches the editorial team are unable to confirm receipt or respond to all enquiries. 

Advertisement and Sponsorship Information

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Please note the advertising representatives cannot assist with editorial approaches or other editorial matters. Please be advised Financial Times advertisers and sponsors have no influence on editorial content.

FTfm Active Management

The Financial Times proposes to publish this FT Report on 09 December 2024

We plan to include the following features (please note that this list is provisional):

Active Managers Pile into Private Assets  

Fund managers are launching new products to invest in private assets - both private debt and private or unquoted equity - almost daily. They say it provides access to a much broader range of assets for private investors, which increases the diversification available to them. Additionally, since the global financial crisis, companies have waited longer to IPO, so many of the more investable companies are not listed on public markets. But cynics say it is just a way to charge higher fees, and puts illiquid assets into supposedly liquid funds. Should investors join the rush? 

Why Active Managers are More Sustainable Investors 

Active fund management is always mentioned around sustainable investing — principally because active managers can divest, potentially selling down huge holdings in companies and making their managements think carefully about their commitments to sustainability. In theory, this makes active managers more ethical than passive managers, who are merely required to 'engage'. Do recent cases back this up?

The Coming of Actively Managed ETFs

Loads of active managers are now launching ETFs. It started in the US, helped by tax arbitrage. But the concept is now spreading to Europe. For example, Robeco launched its first active ETFs in October, and Janus Henderson will be launching its first in Europe shortly afterwards. But how do they work and how do they compare with conventional active funds on costs?   

Active Funds and Correlation Bias 

There has been a trend recently among active fund managers to do what others are doing - especially in the US, where the “Magnificent 7” tech stocks have skewed the return profile of index tracking funds. Therefore a lot of active managers have started to look a little more passive in terms of holding the same stocks as others. But what happens when the magnificent & get too expensive? Or there is a sudden drop in their prices? Managers need to be brave and be actually active, rather than just sticking with what seems to be working well now.

Is the Time Right for Active ‘Special Situations’ Funds?

‘Special Situations’ funds are often thought of as investments in distressed businesses, or turnaround situations. But the recent combination of high interest rates and highly leveraged companies has created lots of healthy businesses that appear to have weak balance sheets. These can represent good investment opportunities. Are Special Situations funds taking advantage of these, and other, opportunities in development markets?     

Active Bond Funds 

How and where are bonds being used in portfolios? After 20-plus years of no returns, debt is getting interesting again. Where are investors putting their money, and how can actively managed bond funds be used to diversify a portfolio?

Information

■ Recently published FT Special Reports can be viewed at www.ft.com/specialreports 

A full list of published reports can be viewed at http://www.ft.com/reports/library Forthcoming FT Special Reports and their synopsis can be downloaded via the 

Future Reports link on the www.ft.com/specialreports page. 

For website assistance please call + (0) 20 7775 6297.

This editorial synopsis must not be amended in any way by anyone other than the Editor of Special Reports. 

All submissions or suggestions for editorial features should be sent to reports@ft.com 

This is to ensure all suggestions can be assessed and to enable the editorial team to cope with the huge volume of approaches that would otherwise stop them from doing their work. Due to the volume of approaches the editorial team are unable to confirm receipt or respond to all enquiries. 

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Please note the advertising representatives cannot assist with editorial approaches or other editorial matters. Please be advised Financial Times advertisers and sponsors have no influence on editorial content.

FTfm Responsible Investing

The Financial Times proposes to publish this FT Report on 02 December 2024

We plan to include the following features (please note that this list is provisional):

Navigating the Anti-ESG Backlash

A few years ago, a conservative backlash against the environmental, social and governance (ESG) investment agenda began gathering momentum in the US, when several states proposed legislation against asset managers who "boycott" the fossil fuel or firearms industry. Since then, regulators have become involved and the anti-ESG laws are being challenged in court. With concerns also being raised over greenwashing and misleading ESG definitions, asset managers are having to rethink their stance on this once popular investment theme. What does all this mean for responsible investors?

Cashing in on the Transatlantic Subsidy Race

Joe Biden's climate-focused Inflation Reduction Act has revolutionised the green investment landscape in the US, with vast subsidies and tax incentives for low-carbon energy. Under pressure for a response, the EU has responded with a generous package of its own. With elections this year in both those jurisdictions — and many others — the policy outlook is especially uncertain. As governments jostle to provide the most attractive destination for green investment, which sectors stand to benefit most, and how can investors reap the rewards?

Spotlight on Biodiversity

Nature and biodiversity long received little attention from the corporate and financial worlds, even as concerns about carbon emissions rose up the agenda. Now, the subject is receiving an unprecedented weight of attention, amid increasingly worrying signs of problems from species loss to water scarcity. A growing number of asset management groups are offering funds that promise to help protect the planet's natural ecosystems. How are they pursuing this goal - and can they make a difference?

Why Critical Minerals are Critical to Energy Policy 

One of the biggest challenges in energy transition is securing the critical minerals needed to power it. But a major report from the International Energy Agency has found that mineral supplies are worryingly concentrated. Over 70 per cent of the world’s cobalt comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo. More than two-thirds of global rare earth metal extraction is in China, which also accounts for the vast bulk of processing of minerals including lithium, cobalt and copper. At the same time, miners are struggling to clean up their act and there has been little progress on the sustainability of critical mineral production. What needs to be done to improve supply? 

Waking up to Modern Slavery

Despite its powerful green credentials, the global solar industry is heavily reliant on the Chinese province of Xinjiang, where there have been serious and widespread allegations of forced labour. With 50mn people living in modern slavery according to the International Labour Organisation, such human rights violations may be present in supply chains across many other industries. Major new regulation in the EU will force companies to report much more extensively on this issue. How can investors navigate the risks around forced labour – and play a role in eliminating it?

Tackling the Data Shortfall

Fund managers pursuing ethical investment strategies have long complained of a chronic shortage of reliable data. A growing field of data providers have emerged to seek to fill that gap – but they vary widely in their quality and rigour, according to some observers. What approaches are major investors taking to access the best information, and what is the most innovative work being done to provide it?

Information

■ Recently published FT Special Reports can be viewed at www.ft.com/specialreports 

A full list of published reports can be viewed at http://www.ft.com/reports/library Forthcoming FT Special Reports and their synopsis can be downloaded via the 

Future Reports link on the www.ft.com/specialreports page. 

For website assistance please call + (0) 20 7775 6297.

This editorial synopsis must not be amended in any way by anyone other than the Editor of Special Reports. 

All submissions or suggestions for editorial features should be sent to reports@ft.com 

This is to ensure all suggestions can be assessed and to enable the editorial team to cope with the huge volume of approaches that would otherwise stop them from doing their work. Due to the volume of approaches the editorial team are unable to confirm receipt or respond to all enquiries. 

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Please note the advertising representatives cannot assist with editorial approaches or other editorial matters. Please be advised Financial Times advertisers and sponsors have no influence on editorial content.

Investing in America

The Financial Times proposes to publish this Special Report on December 10, 2024

We plan to include the following pieces of content (please note this list is provisional):

Biden’s FDI Record: The Final Verdict. 

Joe Biden has staked much of his legacy on his ability to promote investment in the US’s manufacturing sector, which has been particularly attractive to foreign investors in the battery, EV and microprocessor industries. As he leaves the White House, the FT takes a data-led look at whether all the big greenfield investment announcements have borne fruit or just been a lot of public relations hype. 

A New President, A New Industrial Policy? 

With a new president coming into office, there will inevitably be changes in approach to attracting foreign investment. Tariffs have gained bipartisan political support, and some Republicans have even threatened to roll back incentives in Biden’s signature Inflation Reduction Act. We look at what the new administration could bring when it comes to foreign companies in the US. 

Case Study: Nippon Steel. 

On its face, the Nippon Steel acquisition of US Steel should have been a win-win for both companies, as well as the United Steelworkers, who at any other time may have welcomed an investment from an allied country with long and deep roots in the American economy. But the deal was announced in the maw of a presidential race where protectionist sentiment had run rampant. What went wrong? 

The Great AI Land Rush. 

After it became clear that fast-growing green energy companies were scrambling for greenfield sites to build new plants, states across the US began priming locations to attract their investment. But the new AI boom has complicated these efforts: sites that had once been begging for customers are now being inundated with inquiries from Big Tech groups looking to build data centres and energy plants for the booming AI industry. We visit a site in Indiana and tell the tale 

The Secret to Chinese Success. 

Chinese investment in the US have faced hurdles that have made headlines across the world: threatened bans for TikTok, crypto miners kicked out of Wyoming, Shein’s New York IPOs thwarted. But one sector of the Chinese business community has quietly made a success of its American ventures: the solar industry. How have Chinese solar companies done it? 

Has the Semiconductor Boom Stalled? 

The threat posed to Taiwan’s semiconductor industry convinced legislators in Washington to back a government-led industrial policy to incentivise chip fabs on American soil, including by foreign giants like TSMC and Samsung. But complex Commerce Department regulations have stalled several of these investments, and foreign companies have faced the brunt of the red tape. 

The New American Koreatowns. 

Few countries have invested more capital in the US than South Korea, moving the Asian powerhouse into first place among foreign countries announcing greenfield investments in the US. That has led to a boom in Koreatowns in unexpected places, from Kokomo, Indiana to Savannah, Georgia 

Case Study: Toyota in North Carolina. 

It was the largest single investment by a Japanese company in the biggest new plant ever built in North Carolina: Toyota is building a $13.9bn battery plant in Greensboro, a town of 300,000 in the heart of the state’s old tobacco country. How has the Toyota investment changed the small, historic town? 

Information

■ Recently published FT Special Reports can be viewed at www.ft.com/specialreports 

A full list of published reports can be viewed at http://www.ft.com/reports/library Forthcoming FT Special Reports and their synopsis can be downloaded via the 

Future Reports link on the www.ft.com/specialreports page. 

For website assistance please call + (0) 20 7775 6297.

This editorial synopsis must not be amended in any way by anyone other than the Editor of Special Reports. 

All submissions or suggestions for editorial features should be sent to reports@ft.com 

This is to ensure all suggestions can be assessed and to enable the editorial team to cope with the huge volume of approaches that would otherwise stop them from doing their work. Due to the volume of approaches the editorial team are unable to confirm receipt or respond to all enquiries. 

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Please note the advertising representatives cannot assist with editorial approaches or other editorial matters. Please be advised that Financial Times advertisers and sponsors have no influence on editorial content.

Global Brands

The Financial Times proposes to publish this FT Report on 21 January 2025

We plan to include the following pieces of content (please note: this list is provisional)

Our special report will draw upon Kantar’s industry-renowned Global Brands data - and exclusive analysis, available only to the FT, to produce 8 articles, each with an accompanying mini-ranking or graphic.

These will be split into (provisionally):

3 x articles on the fastest-growing brands in these growth markets: 

India

Biggest area is technology and specifically technology service provision; outsourcing in particular - they have been by far the fastest growth brands; challenge has been overcoming cultural perceptions such as bias to IBM, and being thought of as global leaders, TCS can be just as good a choice; how local brands can challenge the multinationals, perform better; comparison with patriotic duty to buy Chinese in China     

Mexico 

The growth in alcohol brands, cultural export of brands, closeness of the US and export of Latino aspects into the US, fast food brands doing well; beer as a signifier of which culture is up   

United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia 

Brands that demonstrably meet consumer needs are being rewarded; Kantar data shows that Emirati and  Saudi brands that improved their scores on ‘Meeting Needs’ also saw significant upticks in measures of usage. Consumers don’t just feel more positively about ‘meaningfully different’ brands - they turn to them more. Three new entrants to Saudi’s ranking include: BSF; Al Rajhi Takaful and Aldrees; telecom giant e& (etisalat and ) remains the top Emirati brand, followed by Emirates and FAB; multi-specialty hospital brand Burjeel enters the Emirati ranking for the first time. 

1 x infographic on the up-and-coming brands with momentum, globally

2 x articles on the brand and sales dynamics within specific sectors, eg 

• Use of AI in non tech industries; 
• Shifting brand values in the electric vehicle market;

2 x newsworthy data-led stories, eg 

• What next for the 'Go woke, go broke' argument? It had been debunked by data showing that inclusivity=sales, but the re-election of Donald Trump and influence of anti-woke billionaire Elon Musk suggest businesses will suffer for promoting equality;  
• Using data to predict return on investment on marketing spend. 

Information

■ Recently published FT Special Reports can be viewed at www.ft.com/specialreports 

A full list of published reports can be viewed at http://www.ft.com/reports/library Forthcoming FT Special Reports and their synopsis can be downloaded via the 

Future Reports link on the www.ft.com/specialreports page. 

For website assistance please call + (0) 20 7775 6297.

This editorial synopsis must not be amended in any way by anyone other than the Editor of Special Reports. 

All submissions or suggestions for editorial features should be sent to reports@ft.com 

This is to ensure all suggestions can be assessed and to enable the editorial team to cope with the huge volume of approaches that would otherwise stop them from doing their work. Due to the volume of approaches the editorial team are unable to confirm receipt or respond to all enquiries. 

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Please note the advertising representatives cannot assist with editorial approaches or other editorial matters. Please be advised Financial Times advertisers and sponsors have no influence on editorial content.

FTfm: Fixed Income 

The Financial Times proposes to publish this FT Report on January 27, 2025

We plan to include the following features (please note that this list is provisional):

Is There a Future for Traditional Bond Funds? 

Investors are avoiding traditional actively-managed bond funds and preferring to use either low-cost exchange traded funds or alternative fixed-income assets such as private credit and infrastructure debt funds, says BlackRock CEO Larry Fink. He has called this the “barbell effect” - because it looks like money is collecting at the two far ends of the spectrum. It is similar to the division in equity investment, where investors are bifurcated between passive index funds and high-fee private equity funds. But what will this mean for conventional bond funds? Do they still have a use? Or do their returns no longer justify their fees?

Is the Trump Trade to Buy Bonds? Or Equities? 

Investors have long been preparing for a second Donald Trump presidency. And the one outcome they seem to agree on is inflation. A big increase in trade tariffs, and tax cuts for businesses and wealthy individuals, plus deregulation look like a recipe for higher stocks and higher inflation, which is bad for bond prices. But, when it looked more likely Trump would win, and create geopolitical chaos by abandoning Europe and Taiwan, bond prices rose. Investors sought safety in US Treasuries government bonds —the go-to asset in times of geopolitical stress. So will Trump's isolationist, protectionist, populism be good or bad for fixed-income investors? 

Will Lower Inflation mean Higher Demand for Bonds?

With inflation finally falling after years of rising prices, bonds appear to offer a reasonable return, again. In Britain, the 10-year government bond yields 4.2 per cent, while in the US, the equivalent Treasury bond offers 4.4 per cent. Assuming that central banks manage to keep inflation to 2 per cent a year, this means bonds offer a real (after inflation) yield of more than 2 percentage points - for the first time in ages. Does this mean they are a serious option for your portfolio?

Is there a dangerous bubble in China's sovereign bonds? 

The People’s Bank of China has been worried about a bubble forming in the country’s sovereign bond market. So worried that it intervened in the market: borrowing several hundred billion renminbi of long-dated bonds that it can sell into the market to try to satisfy demand. The central bank fears that regional banks may be buying at too high a price, creating problems if the value of their holdings suddenly drops - a crisis similar to that which caused the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank last year.

Can Emerging Market Bonds Keep Outperforming?

Resilient economies and domestic reforms have helped emerging market bonds outperform western counterparts. Argentina’s bonds have been among the top performers, as investors have welcomed a radical austerity package and deregulation by incoming president Javier Milei. Meanwhile, dollar bonds in Sri Lanka, Ghana and Zambia have all delivered double-digit returns this year as they enter the final phase of their debt restructuring processes. Significant support from the IMF and other official creditors has also reduced the likelihood of more sovereign debt defaults. So are these the bonds to hold for the best total returns in months and years ahead?  

Are Junk Bonds too Risky if Interest Rates Stay High?

Fixed-income investors have been selling out of the US junk bonds and switching to higher-quality debt, as fears persist over a much longer period of high interest rates and a surge in bankruptcies. They seem worried about companies potentially losing access to funding and defaulting on their debt as borrowing costs stay high. Market expectations for US interest rates have swung wildly in 2024: in January, investors were expecting six or seven rate cuts in the year; they are currently pricing in about two quarter-percentage-point cuts. Does that make junk bonds too risky? 

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