Asset Managers

The association representing Luxembourg’s banking industry has claimed success in its lobbying effort to persuade the EU to amend the rules governing the prudential requirements and the supervision of third-country branches to its satisfaction. The association said Thursday that a series of subsequent amendments preserve the attractiveness of the EU as a financial centre towards the rest of the world.

Through various legislative acts over the past 10-15 years, the EU’s push to democratise private markets has transformed how private equity does business, with a heavy helping of technology and fund management tools allowing for what could be a massive influx of smaller-denominated investors. Market participants are feeling their way forward into the new paradigm, some being quite certain that change has now come in the impending form of the new European Long-term Investment Fund.

The road to hell is paved with good intentions. This applies also for well-intended regulations on environmental, social and governance. Because of the growth of ESG-focused investments in recent years, a new problem pops up: the risk of greenwashing. 

Fewer new reserved alternative investment funds are being registered in Luxembourg this year as investment managers are more cautious and VC fundraising has declined. Investor appetite appears reduced but has not disappeared. Dry powder is said to remain available among institutional investors in the alternatives market. 

In Europe’s two largest ETF hubs, Luxembourg and Ireland, different rules govern the naming of Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs). While European rules for ETF naming conventions are determined by Paris-based authority ESMA, the implementation by national supervisors CSSF in Luxembourg and CBI in Ireland diverges, presenting both opportunities and risks for ETF providers.

Jean-Marc Goy has been appointed as the new Chairperson of the Association of the Luxembourg Fund Industry (ALFI), the industry body announced on Monday following its annual general meeting. Goy is a board member at Capital Group Luxembourg. Before joining the firm in 2018 he served two decades at the grand duchy’s financial supervisor CSSF.

“Active management is a sham — no wonder my returns are suspect,” writes Stuart Kirk, FT columnist and former portfolio manager, in his latest attack on active management. However, he conveniently overlooks one important detail.

In a damning report unveiled this week, non-profit organisation ShareAction exposed that a mere 10 out of 77 asset managers worldwide have taken steps to limit investments in the most damaging fossil fuels across all their investment funds. The report, which delved into the practices of major global asset managers, urged the firms to urgently confront the challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss by reassessing capital allocation strategies and engaging with the companies they invest in.

The negative correlation between bonds and stocks is no longer a certainty due to structurally higher inflation expected in the coming decade. It has therefore become an “absolute necessity” to complement the traditional 60/40 portfolio with alternatives, said Vincent Juvyns, global market strategist at JP Morgan Asset Management, during the firm’s presentation of its outlook for the second half of the year.

A stellar performance of a small number of listed tech companies is largely responsible for the recent recovery in public stock markets. For Ben Prade, partner at international tech investor GP Bullhound, it remains to be seen whether this can serve as a full market revival. Nevertheless, he is upbeat about the prospects for private tech investments, saying 2023 can become “one of those really great vintages”.