Asset Owner

When consensus dominates the market, unexpected surprises often lurk just around the corner. Could the U.S. economy prove weaker than anticipated, while Europe is stronger than expected? Is the threat of inflation a thing of the past, or could it re-emerge with greater intensity?

Heavy rainfall in Spain led to floods in October, causing over 10 billion euro in damages. This is yet another manifestation of the global water crisis, which poses an economic risk to investors. Risk management increasingly involves steering towards sustainability, primarily driven by economic incentives.

This week’s overview of transfers and appointments includes news from GSK Stockmann, Santander Asset Management, Deutsche Boerse, and HSBC.

Edmond de Rothschild Asset Management has identified European small caps as a standout investment opportunity for 2025, labelling them “deeply undervalued”.

Luxembourg’s Blockchain Law IV boosts DLT for securities and introduces the ‘control agent,’ offering new possibilities for fund distribution and innovation.

Demonstrating the impact of sustainable investment remains a significant challenge, according to participants involved in producing a joint report by the Luxembourg Sustainable Finance Initiative (LSFI) and PwC Luxembourg.

Avoid European equities and steer clear of most bonds. According to major investment houses, this is the key strategy to prevent issues in investment portfolios next year.

Luxembourg is undergoing a significant reform of its corporate accounting framework with the introduction of draft bill no. 8286 on 28 July 2023 (the “New Draft Law”).

VanEck, the US-based pioneer of exchange-traded funds (ETFs), has recently launched VanEck Direct, a new app that enables the company to sell investment products directly to retail investors—bypassing banks and brokers.

Some macroeconomic indicators carry more weight than others. But does this mean investors always pay attention to the right ones? I doubt it. That’s why, in this column, I focus on a once-reliable recession predictor whose effectiveness is fading, and another indicator that actually determines recessions—but is largely overlooked.