Investment Officer

In the wake of a sturdy first half characterised by ebbing inflation, stellar tech-driven stock market performance, and soaring bond yields, economists and investment strategists predict a reduced recession risk for the latter half of 2023, a survey by Natixis Investment Managers shows. “Recession is still a real possibility, but most expect a softer landing,” said Mabrouk Chetouane, head of global market strategy at Natixis IM.

Apex Group, a global financial services provider with a significant presence in Luxembourg, on Monday said it agreed to acquire Axess Accounting Office, a provider of corporate tax services for real estate and private equity firms in Japan. Financial details were not disclosed. 

Cyprus has emerged as the primary location for firms offering cross-border investment services to retail clients in the European Union and European Economic Area, accounting for 23 percent of the total firms providing passported services. Luxembourg and Germany followed closely, representing 16 percent and 13 percent of all firms, respectively, according to an analysis conducted by European Securities and Markets Authority (Esma) and national competent authorities (NCAs).

Goldman Sachs Asset Management has successfully raised over 200 million dollars with its inaugural European Long Term Investment Fund, Private Markets Eltif 2023. The fund offers individual investors direct access to investments in the private market and is managed by Goldman Sachs Asset Management, a leading global investment firm overseeing over 450 billion dollars in alternative assets.

Four private banks in Luxembourg have received the highest ranking in the latest “High Net Worth” report by London-based rankings and insights intelligence company Chambers and Partners.

Bank Julius Baer Luxembourg S.A., Banque de Luxembourg SA, Banque Internationale à Luxembourg SA and Pictet & Cie (Europe) SA - in alphabetical order - were each assigned a ‘band 1’ ranking, the highest in Chamber’s ranking system from one to six.

Nicolas Mackel, the CEO of the Luxembourg for Finance development agency Luxembourg for Finance and considered as the de facto ambassador of Luxembourg’s financial sector, speaks to Investment Officer’s Raymond Frenken in this IO Talks podcast.

Daniele Antonucci has taken on a new role at Quintet Private Bank. He has been appointed as Co-Head of Investment & Chief Investment Officer per July 1, he announced in a post on LinkedIn.

Antonucci joined Quintet in April 2020 and has since then served as Chief Economist & Macro Strategist. Before joining Quintet, he was Chief Euro Area Economist at Morgan Stanley.

The world’s largest active bond house is warning that, despite last week’s declines, stock markets are still too optimistic about the ability of central banks to stave off a recession.

This recession, says Pimco’s global strategist Gene Frieda, is the most anticipated of all time, but it is indeed coming. He believes that the optimism in the stock market is premature: “Markets are still pricing in interest rate cuts too soon,” the strategist tells Investment Officer.

The European Fund and Asset Management Association (Efama) has declared that the European investment fund sector is not capable of undermining financial stability to the extent that it results in systemic risks.