M&A: the ‘new normal’ in UK asset management
The merger of Standard Life and Aberdeen is a sign of the times in asset manager consolidation, but who will be the winners and losers from the trend?
Analysis
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Europe ex UK funds beat index over three key timescales
The average European ex UK fund performance suggests that active managers added value over three, five, and 10 years, despite 2016 being a tough period for active European ex UK funds after the strong outperformance of the previous 12 months.
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ANALYSIS: Does snap election signal time to cut UK equities?
The murky state of UK politics is cementing wealth manager and asset allocator aversion to the domestic equity market with exposures continuing to shrink.
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Perfect Storm: UAE advisers must adapt to regulatory truth
The scale of regulatory change facing advisers in the Middle East will force major changes on the advisory industry and survival will require the interests of customer, distributor and provider to become more aligned, argues David Thompson of FPI.
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Revisiting retirement plans after the Qrops tax bombshell
Chancellor Philip Hammond’s Spring Budget contained a game-changing announcement in relation to UK pension transfers to overseas schemes, says Brendhan Harper, head of technical services at Friends Provident International.
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ANALYSIS: Investment strategies ahead of the French election
The first round of the French election is just a few days away. So what are investors doing to protect against another potential shock victory and near-term volatility?
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Advice businesses must adapt to survive and thrive
Changes in regulation coupled with a transformation in client expectations and increased use of technology means financial advisers need to review their business model to ensure they have a business that is future fit, says Old Mutual Wealth’s Mike Leeson.
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Harness ‘animal spirits’ for investment success
Not being a student of Keynesian theory, I’ve been somewhat confused by the oft mentioned revival in ‘animal spirits’. Rather than bulls and bears, investors should beware the headless chickens.
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ANALYSIS: Return of volatility concerns wealth managers
The US airstrike on Syria and disappointing jobs data immediately brought down markets last week, and investment managers are beginning to protect their portfolios against more of the same.
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Most European insurers ignore responsible investment criteria
Only one-in-three European insurance companies take environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria into account when investing, and most of these do so because of regulatory pressure, according to a survey by Axa IM.
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ANALYSIS: Protectionist US policies no threat to China
The threat of protectionist US policies has weakened the yuan and caused concerns among some investors, but a more protectionist stance from the US might actually benefit China.
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Why a high conviction strategy suits the times
If 2016 taught investors anything it was that the market’s response to macroeconomic events is unpredictable at best. History tells us Donald Trump’s election and the Brexit vote should have derailed markets, but they proved remarkably resilient.