Asset Manager

With the hype around artificial intelligence and despite its high-profile failures and misuses, it’s clear the global financial sector has plenty of interest in AI, especially in hopes of finding yet another way to outsource low-complexity work. Many large financial firms have set up special departments to explore and lead the introduction of the technology in its various product offerings.

Last weekend marked the second anniversary of the current bull market in equities. Since hitting its low point on October 12, 2022, the MSCI All Countries World Index has surged about 50 percent, the S&P 500 has risen by around 75 percent, and the Nasdaq has doubled. The driving force behind this impressive rally? The so-called “Magnificent Seven” stocks, which have nearly tripled in value over the same period.

Plans to increase Europe’s capital markets capacity hinge on giving retail investors access to private assets, but liquidity remains a sticking point. Evergreen funds, designed to offer investors some liquidity in otherwise illiquid assets, are being touted as a solution.

In Belgium, less than 10 percent of the 410 members of the CFA Society are women. ‘Bitterly few,’ concludes Maud Reinalter, CIO of Belfius Asset Management. When a woman applies for a fund manager position, 200 percent of the profile matches. A male candidate applies when he meets only 80 percent of the requirements.

Institutional investors are predicting significant growth and risk-adjusted returns in the hedge fund sector over the next few years, according to new global research from Beacon Platform Inc., a provider of portfolio analytics and risk management solutions.

Martine Solovieff, Luxembourg’s top criminal prosecutor, has issued a stark warning regarding the country’s persistent struggle with financial crime investigations, citing overwhelming caseloads and staffing shortages as key obstacles.

Chinese stocks experienced an unprecedented rally in the final week of Q3. A series of unexpected stimulus measures pushed Chinese equities to their largest weekly rise in 15 years, supporting the outperformance of emerging markets compared to developed markets over the past three months.

This week’s overview of transfers, appointments, promotions and other career news in the fund and asset management community in and outside Luxembourg includes updates from Crédit Mutuel Asset Management, the European Securities and Markets Authority (Esma), M&G, Schroders, Carmignac and Vistra.

The oil market is on tenterhooks as the conflict in the Middle East escalates, with much hinging on Israel’s next move in response to Iran’s recent missile attack. While oil prices have risen, the market remains surprisingly calm, despite the looming threat of supply disruptions.

The surge in US Treasury yields above the 4 percent threshold is drawing a mixed response from investors, despite the Federal Reserve’s recent rate cuts. Experts from Pictet, UBS Wealth Management, and Bank of America see an opportunity to lock in attractive yields amid market turbulence, but the bond market remains unconvinced about the Fed’s path forward.