Asset Servicing

Equity markets in emerging countries extended their strong performance from the first six months of 2025 into the third quarter, led by heavyweight China, as well as Colombia, Egypt, Peru, Thailand, and South Africa.

Assets in European thematic ETFs have climbed to a record 52 billion euro, the highest level since the post-Covid “everything bubble.” While a record number of thematic funds closed in 2024, the category is making a comeback this year, led by the themes of defense and AI.

Europe’s fee war is entering a new phase. Morningstar’s latest European Fund Fee Study finds that while the steepest cost declines are over, new competitive forces are reshaping the industry.

This week’s overview of people moves in the investment industry includes new leadership appointments at Zedra, Cube Infrastructure Managers, River Global and more.

Last week, during the Fund Event, I sat in a packed room around a metaphorical campfire. This time, questions didn’t come through the chat, but as paper airplanes floating through the air. Some landed in the fire and were answered immediately. Others fell into the ashes. Time to pick those up.

ABN Amro’s private banking operations are a key asset for parties considering a takeover of the bank, even though the division’s financial results are generally weaker than those of its competitors.

Wat als de sleutel tot het begrijpen van marktrendementen niet in de balansen van bedrijven ligt, maar in de portefeuilles van de mensen die ze bezitten?

The CSSF has ordered all Luxembourg-based investment fund managers to review and, if necessary, correct their sustainability risk policies and disclosures, following a Europe-wide supervisory exercise that found compliance broadly satisfactory but still in need of significant improvement. The order also applies to managers of so-called Article 6 funds, which do not claim ESG characteristics.

As I’m still reflecting on the Fund Event 2025, where it became objectively clear that Europe needs to take action and learn to look at and approach things differently, the United States just keeps steaming ahead.

Exceptional investment strategies are rare, as reflected in Morningstar’s qualitative fund ratings. Fewer than 6 percent of actively managed funds qualitatively assessed by Morningstar analysts in Europe achieve a High score on both the People and Process pillars, placing them in the highest conviction category.