As the British government struggles to trigger an exit from the European Union, fund distribution heads at some of the biggest names in the industry share their thoughts on the implications for their UK and European operations.
European investors have been rather apathetic about US equities for an extended period. This is unlikely to change if Hillary Clinton wins the presidential elections. A Trump win, however, will probably prompt a pronounced shift in sentiment.
With less than a week to go before one of the most contentious presidential contests concludes, some market participants are ignoring the noise, but many are fretting over shocks to equity markets and the potential fallout from protectionist trade policies.
While emerging market debt saw record quarterly inflows globally during the third quarter of 2016, the global hunt for yield does not benefit developed market junk bonds. But this could soon change.
South African finance minister excepted (and perhaps, England football manager), there are few harder jobs right now than the role of governor of the Bank of England.
Singapore outpaced Hong Kong for sales of unit-linked investment and savings products in the first half of 2016. As the industry awaits third quarter data, Bryan Low of Provisca reflects on the trends seen in the figures so far.
There is a lot to worry about. From Aleppo to Zuma, geopolitical risk in all its forms dominates global headlines.
Saudi Arabia’s record debt sale last week showed that emerging market bonds remain in strong demand with yield-hungry investors. However, the question is whether appetite could reverse as quickly as it has in the past.
The death of the 30-year bond bull market that has formed the backdrop for most City careers has been predicted many times. It has yet to come to pass. But, if one were looking for signs that it is reaching an inflection point, the last seven days has proved a fertile hunting ground.
Massive, opportunistic M&A activity doesn’t tend to be a characteristic of the bottom of a cycle. Still-standing majors, snapping up capitulating minnows is common, but two behemoths joining forces is usually left for times when shares are expensive and can do a lot of the heavy lifting.
European Central Bank president Mario Draghi delivered a relatively short address after the October governing council meeting on Thursday which was light on substance, but there was something in his remarks that may worry investors.
Returns from alternative Ucits funds have been disappointing over the past couple of years. But perhaps fund selectors have to blame themselves for this.
