Asset Servicing

The spectacular rally in Japanese equities appears to be over after many years of strong gains. Following years of underweight positioning, global investors have finally turned their attention to Japanese stocks, spurred by a recent aversion to U.S. equities—just as momentum is beginning to fade.

Agentic AI, a new class of artificial intelligence capable of autonomous decision-making, is beginning to reshape the asset management industry. Dutch investment firm Robeco is among the first to publicly test the technology, aiming to integrate AI systems that not only analyse markets but also can act on them.

Under control. No, that title isn’t about Iranian airspace—although, with recent developments, an entire column could easily be dedicated to that as well. The title refers to the American consumer, who, despite all the uncertainty surrounding tariffs, has yet to throw in the towel.

The world’s wealthiest families are pouring billions into artificial intelligence as an investment theme. But when it comes to using the technology themselves, most are still watching from the sidelines.

The decline of value investing is not a recent phenomenon but a process that has been unfolding for over three decades. While many pinpoint its loss of effectiveness around 2007, Baruch Lev and Anup Srivastava demonstrate in their study that the strategy has in fact been structurally underperforming since the late 1980s. The key question is therefore: is value investing dead, or merely in a deep hibernation?

University endowment funds in the U.S. are offloading private equity stakes as tax hikes loom. They frame it as strategic, but industry voices increasingly suspect disappointing returns are forcing their hand.

This week’s overview of people transfers and appointments includes updates from Schroders, Amundi, IBS Capital Allies, Partners Group, and Luxembourg industry associations Alfi and LPEA.

The question of how best to incorporate bitcoin into an investment portfolio is becoming increasingly relevant. As the digital currency gains mainstream acceptance, investors grapple with the practical considerations: should you buy crypto directly, or opt for traditional financial instruments?

Luxembourg is gradually carving out a role in global private markets, not with fanfare, but through quiet, deliberate action. Emerging investor relations roles, a growing presence of single family offices, and a measured push to localise fundraising are reshaping its identity beyond its traditional middle-office roots.

Quintet Private Bank is increasing its exposure to Japanese equities as part of its global strategy for the second half of 2025.