Max Severijns

Support from the world’s preeminent asset managers for shareholder proposals concentrating on environmental and social concerns has plummeted to an unprecedented nadir in 2023. This steep decline is predominantly attributable to Anglo-Saxon entities.

Roderick van Zuylen is prepared for the challenge. On the 1st of January, the ex-Van Lanschot Kempen portfolio manager inaugurated his own investment fund in the US: Night Watch Investment Management. “I desired a name that alluded to my Dutch heritage, yet Dike Capital and Tulip Invest were disregarded for obvious reasons.”

A series of significant lawsuits highlight a core principle of the US economy: political agendas are personal, while investor returns are paramount. 

Kristina Hooper, chief strategist at Invesco, understands that the endless debating about interest rates seems a bit excessive, “but back in the day, investors had to guess what was going to happen to interest rates by looking at the thickness of Alan Greenspan’s briefcase”.

Political pressure is mounting on the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over its efforts on climate reporting and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG). With the recent delay in final regulations, the question arises: Is the SEC bowing to pressure from critics?

Is the US Spot Bitcoin ETF Hype Overblown? The SEC’s rejection of spot bitcoin ETFs faces legal challenges, raising questions about their potential impact.

BlackRock, during the presentation of its 2024 Global Outlook at its New York headquarters, indicated that the Federal Reserve is unlikely to cut interest rates until the second half of next year, a scenario the market currently sees as highly improbable. This divergence in expectations set the stage for the event, titled “Context is Everything”, where the asset manager shared its strategic insights. 

After a previous setback, BlackRock is launching new target-date ETFs, aiming at the vast market of Americans without pension plans, a move seen as promising for the self-employed.

BlackRock is reviving its target-date fund ETF series with a fresh approach, targeting the trillion-dollar market of Americans lacking pension plans, nine years after its initial failure.

Forecasting the S&P 500’s trajectory, most major banks in the US, including their asset managers, predict a marginally positive year for the index in 2024. However, views diverge significantly on the fate of the ‘Magnificent Seven’ tech giants.

China, once a beacon for investors, is facing unprecedented challenges, leaving institutional portfolio managers worldwide questioning its investability. ‘A valid concern, but the question whether or not China is still investable is too complex for a simple yes or no.’

That’s according to Arthur Kroeber, founder of Gavekal Dragonomics, an independent research firm specializing in the economics, politics, and social issues of China.