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.
WTax: Vivendi case shows it pays to watch your tax exposure
Standardized tax recovery processes often miss non-routine events, such as spin-offs. The Vivendi case highlights why fund managers should actively review all forms of cross-border withholding tax exposure.
Return is a chosen illusion
At the heart of financial research lies a seemingly simple question: what is the risk-return profile of stocks and corporate bonds? New research based on the Belgian stock market from 1850 to 1913 shows that the answer changes fundamentally when illiquidity is taken into account.
Second opinions become strategic tool for asset managers
External portfolio reviews are becoming a core strategic tool for wealth managers navigating volatile markets. For firms like Natixis Investment Managers, Blackrock, and Morgan Stanley, these second opinions deepen client engagement and sharpen their competitive edge.
Mid-sized ManCos drive Luxembourg’s alternatives surge
The number of licensed management companies in Luxembourg has held steady at 298. But this surface stability masks a quiet transformation in the Grand Duchy’s asset services industry.
Candriam waves Metaverse goodbye and restructures fund
Candriam is transforming its Global Metaverse Fund—originally focused on companies developing the metaverse—into a tech fund centered around AI, cybersecurity, and other trends. It marks a clear sign that the tech hype of 2022 has fully fizzled out.
AI shake-up rattles opaque ESG data market
A powerful combination of artificial intelligence, looming regulation and shifting market dynamics is shaking up the opaque world of ESG data providers.
Dull dividend stocks are making a comeback
The underweighting of expensive U.S. growth stocks is playing into the hands of dividend strategies. Investors are once again showing interest in boring companies with stable dividends.
Morningstar: MFS vs. Maj Invest in Global Large-Cap Value Equities
After years of underperformance, European equities are finally stepping out of the shadow of their U.S. counterparts in 2025. Investors began the year skeptical about Europe, but sentiment shifted—thanks in part to a German proposal to invest heavily in infrastructure and defense.
Euro as a challenger to the dollar?
The U.S. dollar is taking a beating. I’m not just referring to its exchange rate, but also to the growing doubts being raised about the role the greenback plays on the global stage as the de facto world currency.