Investment Officer

Quintet Private Bank, based in Luxembourg, has forged a partnership with Berlin-based digital investment platform Moonfare. The alliance aims to bolster Quintet’s private-market offerings to select clients while extending Moonfare’s distribution reach.

A new study has ranked Luxembourg as the 4th best OECD country for a sustainable business startup. Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Sweden take the three podium places.

The study by Utility Bidder, a UK energy consultancy for businesses, shows that Luxembourg, with a score of 6.33 out of 10,  has a relatively high number of startups as measured against its population, takes the top spot in eco-friendly commuting and scores top place when measuring carbon emissions per capita.

The rapid escalation of hostilities between Hamas and Israel has triggered a significant rise in crude oil prices. Whether broad market volatility will follow depends on Iran.  

The most immediate impact on the market by the unexpected flare-up of violence in Israel, which began Saturday on the seventh and last day of Jewish Sukkot celebrations, was observed in oil markets.

Global investors are increasingly favouring businesses with localised supply chains in response to geopolitical uncertainty and inflation, according to the Schroders Institutional Investor Study for 2023.

Warren Hastings has been appointed as group co-head of investment and head of portfolio Management at Luxembourg-headquartered Quintet Private Bank.

Hastings served for the past dozen years at Credit Suisse, first in Asia and then for the previous five years in Zurich. He was most recently head of investment management, international locations, at that firm. After beginning his career at Schroders as a pan-Asian equity fund manager in London and Singapore, he then joined Standard Chartered, also in Singapore, as head of Portfolio management.

This week’s overview of transfers, appointments and promotions includes updates from Fidelity, KPMG Luxembourg, Kneip, Creutz & Partners and Allen & Overy.

The Luxembourg government, represented by prime minister Xavier Bettel and finance minister Yuriko Backes, on Tuesday officially inaugurated Bank of America’s new branch in Luxembourg. The office was already opened on 10 May.

The European Securities and Markets Authority (Esma), the EU’s financial markets regulator and supervisor, on Tuesday said it plans a comprehensive review next year of industry efforts to integrate sustainability in investment firms’ suitability assessment and product governance processes and procedures.

The review will be shaped as a Common Supervisory Action, or CSA, in which it closely involves national supervisors such as the CSSF in Luxembourg.

JP Morgan’s recent decision to incorporate India into its Emerging Market bond index has ignited institutional interest in the world’s leading emerging market government bond. However, full acceptance still has significant barriers to overcome.

The European Securities and Markets Authority, Esma, on Thursday posted its 2024 work programme, emphasising digital and green transitions against a backdrop of economic challenges including inflation and geopolitical strains.

Esma said it plans to reinforce its market and risk monitoring efforts and support the European regulatory framework’s implementation, particularly in digital and sustainability sectors. This is in line with the regulator’s aim to address challenges for the European Union and its citizens, including investors.