Investment Officer

Luxembourg-headquartered asset manager Candriam on Wednesday announced the launch of a new alternative investments platform as a response to growing demand for diverse alternative investment solutions in today’s market environment.

As financial markets teeter on the precipice of expectation and reality, this week’s central bank decisions on interest rates and monetary policy could be the lynchpin that redefines investor sentiment for the coming months.

At the heart of this tumultuous period are the central banking trifecta - the US Federal Reserve (Fed), the European Central Bank (ECB), and the Bank of England (BoE) - whose final meetings of the year are eagerly awaited amidst robust employment data.

Ucits and Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) experienced mixed fortunes during the third quarter, according to the latest statisstics reported by Brussels-based European fund sector trade association Efama. Net assets of these investment funds dipped to 19.7 trillion euro, down 0.6 percent from the second quarter, reflecting a cautious market sentiment.

A recent analysis of the 2021 census published on Thursday shows that English has become the third most spoken language in Luxembourg, replacing German. Luxembourgish is experiencing a downturn. A report by Statec, the national statistics agency, reveals that over a quarter of the population, or 25.7 percent, now speak English at home or use it at work or school, an increase from 21 percent in 2011.

The Bank of England (BoE) has issued a warning about the risks posed by private credit and leveraged loans to financial stability in an environment of higher interest rates. Private debt, a market where Luxembourg structures play a major international role, looks ‘particularly vulnerable’.

European pension savers are facing significant hurdles due to high fee levels and a lack of transparency in pension savings markets.

This week’s overview of transfers, appointments, promotions and other people news includes updates from Aviva Investors, EY, DWS and Alfi.

Charlie Munger, Warren Buffett’s esteemed colleague at Berkshire Hathaway, passed away on Tuesday at 99, marking a significant moment in the history of corporate America and the investment world.

Berkshire Hathaway announced Munger’s peaceful passing at a California hospital. He was close to his centennial, residing in Los Angeles. Buffett, 93, credited Munger with a pivotal role in shaping Berkshire Hathaway, highlighting his involvement as fundamental to the company’s growth.

Serge Weyland, CEO at Edmond de Rothschild Asset Management in Luxembourg, is set to replace Camille Thommes as the director general of the Association of the Luxembourg Fund Industry (Alfi), effective 1 January 2024.

The Luxembourg private debt fund market, with its assets under management soaring to 404.4 billion euros, marks a stunning 51 percent growth year-over-year, showcasing its robust position in the European financial landscape, according to the latest edition of the annual private debt survey by KPMG and industry association Alfi.