Expert Panel

Sustainable investing has faced a challenging period since 2021, following years of seemingly unstoppable growth. While investor capital has continued to flow into sustainable funds, the pace has significantly slowed compared to the boom years.

Investors have plenty of choices. The financial services sector encompasses a diverse universe from which portfolio investors can make their selections. Traditionally, banks and insurers dominate, but companies involved in payments, stock exchanges, capital markets, and asset management are also part of the broad range of investment opportunities.

Allocation funds have fallen out of favour with investors since their weak performance in 2022, and in 2023, the classic equity-bond mix portfolio was even declared dead in some quarters. This proved premature, as these portfolios have performed well in recent years.

Luxembourg’s CSSF has issued its first SFDR compliance sanction, marking a shift to enforcement. Asset managers, take note—ESG disclosures must be accurate, clear, and aligned with investment policies, write Claire Guilbert and Cyril Clugnac at Norton Rose Fulbright.

Bond markets struggled in the fourth quarter of 2024. Inflation proved sticky in the US, dampening hopes of larger interest-rate cuts and sending long-term bond yields higher. In Europe, political volatility in France and Germany, along with a more moderate outlook for ECB rate cuts in the coming year, dragged bond returns lower.

Global emerging markets local currency bonds had a tough 2024, but two standout strategies—Capital Group and Colchester—weathered the storm with distinct approaches. Morningstar analysis reveals the key differences driving their results.

The Pan-European Pension Product (PEPP) has struggled to gain traction since its 2022 launch, but proposed reforms under “PEPP 2.0” could create significant opportunities for Luxembourg’s fund and asset management industry.

With a loss of approximately 1 percent in euros during the fourth quarter, emerging markets ended 2024 on a slightly negative note. Although the year delivered a return of 14 percent, the emerging markets index lagged behind the global index, which achieved a return of 25 percent.

The investment year 2024 has proven to be a successful one for investors in global equities. The Morningstar Global TME Index closed the year with an impressive gain of 25 percent.

With the Digital Operational Resilience Act deadline looming, Martin Groos explains how financial firms and ICT providers must urgently adapt contracts.