Europe’s top CIOs balance optimism with uncertainty
In a world grappling with economic fragmentation, geopolitical tensions, and inflationary pressures, chief investment officers at Europe’s three largest asset managers – Amundi, DWS, and Schroders – see 2024 as a year poised for cautious optimism amid ongoing economic uncertainty.
Esma warns on CLO ratings, sees conflict-of-interest risks
The European Securities and Markets Authority, Esma, on Thursday issued a warning about practices surrounding Collateralised Loan Obligations (CLOs) in the EU. The supervisory body has found potential conflicts of interest and undue influence in the CLO rating process during the 2017-2021 period.
The Big Three credit rating agencies - Fitch Ratings, Moody’s and S&P - are at the centre of this review.
CSSF: ‘Frozen accounts not to be seen as material issue’
The fact that financial institutions in Luxembourg have frozen some 86.000 investor accounts should not be regarded as a material issue because the Financial Action Task Force has not issued a recommendation on this topic, a senior official at the Grand Duchy’s financial supervisory body CSSF has said.
Industry welcomes planned tax cuts for active ETFs
The head of Luxembourg’s fund and asset management industry association on Tuesday gave its full backing to a government plan to make the Grand Duchy’s tax laws friendlier for investors in active ETFs, a product that is experiencing considerable investor interest across Europe.
Jean-Marc Goy, president of the Association of Luxembourg’s Fund and Asset Management, Alfi, told a conference that the tax treatment of active Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) is “where improvement is needed.”
‘Deficient’ due diligence behind mass account freeze
Luxembourg’s financial watchdog CSSF has disclosed that about 86,000 investor accounts, primarily belonging to everyday retail investors across Europe, are currently frozen in the Grand Duchy.
Eltif 2.0 supervisory standards could come only late February
Updated European rules for long-term investment funds known as Eltifs will enter into force on 10 January 2024, but managers looking to actually launch new Eltif 2.0 funds may have to wait until the end of February because European financial supervisors still have to agree on the technical standards for supervising these products.
AI seen triggering fresh consolidation in asset sector
Consolidation, regulatory risks, and the need to stay relevant to the target audience of investors and asset owners are considered as the topics that keep C-level asset managers awake at night. At the Efama conference in Brussels on Thursday, CEOs of five firms underlined the importance of adaptability, technological integration, and maintaining a clear company purpose.
Global art market poised for significant growth
Global wealth linked to art and collectibles is projected to grow by nearly a third to 2.861 billion dollars by 2026 from the level of 2.174 billion in 2022, according to the Deloitte Luxembourg Art & Finance Report 2023.
DWS CIO Jesch sees ESG moving towards engagement
Although discussions about environmental and social governance, or ESG, and sustainable investing may have encountered a lull during recent weeks, investors and asset owners worldwide still consider this topic as hugely significant in their discussions with asset managers, according to one of Europe’s top chief investment officers.
FCA warns asset managers on inadequate ESG practices
The UK’s financial supervisor still sees shortcomings in the asset management industry in regards to sustainable investment funds ahead of its publication of more stringent anti-greenwashing rules.