Esma faces uphill battle to emerge as European SEC
In an interview with Investment Officer, Esma chair Verena Ross outlined her vision and the significant challenges ahead as the regulatory body aims to become Europe’s equivalent to the US SEC.
‘Euro stablecoin stands or falls with support from major banks’
A dozen major European banks have joined forces to offer a euro stablecoin to clients by the end of this year. “We have a better chance of creating a broadly supported stablecoin than fintechs,” said Floris Lugt, CFO of Qivalis, the joint venture that will issue the crypto payment instrument.
Beijing’s handshake
While the whole world was watching the Serena Hotel in Islamabad, where the ceasefire negotiations on Iran were taking place, the real news last week unfolded 6,000 kilometers away.
Investors are getting used to war. That worries Pieterse-Bloem.
The conflict in the Middle East hit financial markets less hard than expected. Rabobank strategist Mary Pieterse-Bloem sees in that not just relief, but a risk.
Heinzl takes helm at Quintet as cost pressure defines next phase
The new chief executive of Europe’s quietly ambitious private bank starts work this week. His profile suggests a fixer. The question is what he intends to fix.
Chart of the week: inflation peak
I have been watching the financial markets with some amazement for the past few weeks. A US president threatening the eradication of an entire society, while equity markets remain largely unchanged. Then a fresh TACO triggers a recovery rally of several percent, even though there is nothing more than a two-week ceasefire and ongoing uncertainty. For anyone looking even slightly ahead, a clear bump appears that we will all have to get over.
Morningstar: Invesco vs First Sentier in global emerging markets equity
Emerging markets started the year strongly, but geopolitical tensions stemming from the US/Israel–Iran conflict have since tempered sentiment.
Eastern Europe outpaces the West, but investors remain absent
Eastern Europe has been growing faster than the West for years. Western European companies are benefiting from that growth through large-scale factory investments. International investors, however, have completely missed the bull market. They left after the war in Ukraine and have not returned. According to analysts at Fidelity International and Karoll Capital, it is time to come back.
Platforms are shifting power dynamics in European fund distribution
The way capital flows is changing. Alongside banks and traditional networks, digital platforms are increasingly claiming a prominent place in this chain. This shift is altering access points to markets and strengthening the role of standardized products in portfolio construction, such as ETFs.
Transfers: Apex, NBIM, Generali, L&G, HSBC, Amundi, Vistra
Our weekly update of people moves in Luxembourg and elsehwere in the world.