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.
Adding private markets means paying twice for the same risk
Investors seeking to diversify their portfolios and reduce dependence on traditional equity indices are increasingly turning to private markets. However, through their public holdings they already have exposure to those same markets. The additional costs associated with private funds do not structurally deliver higher returns.
De miljardairsfabriek hapert
De private equity-sector zit klem. Exits stagneren, kapitaal blijft vastzitten en beleggers wachten langer op hun geld dan ooit. Maar in plaats van die problemen op te lossen, verschuift de sector ze naar particuliere beleggers. Dat is de harde conclusie van Lucas Crasborn, CIO van Optimix Vermogensbeheer.
The acceleration
The world was already electrifying at a rapid pace. But two developments are now pushing this process into an acceleration that would have seemed unthinkable just a few years ago.
Morningstar: Schroders versus T. Rowe Price in global equities
Equities are off to a volatile start in 2026. While initial optimism around the AI capex boom continued to support global equity markets, a rotation into cyclical sectors, value, and non-US stocks helped broaden the rally.
Transfers: Anthos, Morgan Stanley, Partners Group, PGIM, Intesa Sanpaolo
This week’s overview of people moves in Luxembourg and beyond.
Higher rates weigh on EMD more than geopolitics
The unrest in the Middle East has affected Emerging Market Debt (EMD) through rising rates and higher risk premiums. There is no indication, for now, of a structural deterioration in credit risk.
Oversubscription of bond issuances creates a snowball effect
The fact that some bond issuances are now oversubscribed by as much as ten times illustrates how sharply market sentiment has shifted. After more than a decade of interest rates close to zero, bonds in the eurozone are once again offering returns, around 3 to 4 percent for investment grade.
Europe is the biggest victim of the war against Iran
The war against Iran has now lasted a month, and the consequences are becoming visible at a rapid pace. The conflict began as an American-Israeli operation targeting Iran’s nuclear program and the regime in Tehran. But while the United States and Israel are dropping bombs, Europe is absorbing the heaviest economic blows. The result of decades of failed European energy policy, strategic dependency, and a lack of geopolitical power.
New EU rules raise the bar for ESG rating providers
A sweeping new EU regulation for ESG rating providers is set to reshape a market that Morningstar Sustainalytics has helped build, consolidating a fragmented industry and raising the compliance bar significantly.