Raymond Frenken

Luxembourg’s financial regulator CSSF has delivered a sharp warning to the country’s Investment Fund Managers (IFMs) regarding weaknesses in oversight practices when delegating portfolio management. The CSSF’s latest review highlights specific shortcomings, particularly in conflict of interest management and contingency planning, that could expose IFMs to regulatory risk and potential operational failures.

As the shift towards passive investing continues to reshape the asset management industry, active managers are exploring new strategies and product formats to maintain their edge. In an interview, Joseph Pinto, CEO of M&G Investments, outlined how the UK-based firm is adapting to the changing landscape.

As investors grapple with the potential market impact of the upcoming U.S. presidential election and simmering geopolitical tensions, Greg Peters, co-chief investment officer of PGIM Fixed Income, is closely monitoring a unique set of derivatives to gauge the Federal Reserve’s future policy path.

Ireland’s decision not to introduce its own version of Luxembourg’s highly successful Reserved Alternative Investment Fund (Raif) signals a cautious approach in the global race for private market leadership and reflects concerns over potential problems with liquidity and valuations in this market.

With the European Commission confirming on Tuesday that the Level 2 Regulatory Technical Standards (RTS) for the revised European Long-Term Investment Funds (Eltifs) regime are on track, the alternatives industry is shifting its focus towards overcoming operation challenges such as on co-investments, liquidity management and handling different tax regimes across the EU market.

The annual Luxembourg Private Equity Association (LPEA) Insights Conference drew over 1,000 professionals to the Grand Duchy this year, underscoring the nation’s status as the largest global private markets hub outside the United States.

Martine Solovieff, Luxembourg’s top criminal prosecutor, has issued a stark warning regarding the country’s persistent struggle with financial crime investigations, citing overwhelming caseloads and staffing shortages as key obstacles.

The oil market is on tenterhooks as the conflict in the Middle East escalates, with much hinging on Israel’s next move in response to Iran’s recent missile attack. While oil prices have risen, the market remains surprisingly calm, despite the looming threat of supply disruptions.

As Luxembourg’s financial ecosystem adjusts to the open finance revolution, wealth and asset managers must navigate a range of hurdles to stay competitive.