Sector

As fund managers or financial advisers, evaluating the performance of an investment portfolio and accessing pertinent information are crucial. Professors Georges Hübner (photo) from the University of Liège and Pascal François from the University of Montreal, Canada, address these queries comprehensively in their extensive work, The Complete Guide to Portfolio Performance, spanning over 1,000 pages. This book, endorsed by Nobel laureate William Sharpe, an authority in risk-return analysis, aims to become the definitive text in its field.

Religious institutions have traditionally had a unique approach to asset management and investment. In recent years, attention to climate change and socially responsible investing has become increasingly important, though widespread professionalisation remains elusive.

This week’s overview of transfers, appointments, promotions and other people news includes updates from Euroclear, Norton Rose Fulbright, Mourant Luxembourg and Pictet.

Valérie Urbain

Valérie Urbain (photo) has officially been appointed as chief executive officer of Euroclear, with her appointment having been approved at the May 3 annual general meeting. She will replace Lieve Mostrey.

Publicly listed companies with the highest ESG scores and substantial investments from ESG funds often pay the least in taxes. In many cases, they pay even less than required by law, and according to Professor Gideon Parchomovsky, institutional investors play a role in this.

The UK’s new Overseas Fund Regime (OFR) plans to integrate strict sustainability reporting for foreign investment funds by 2025, enhancing market access while maintaining a competitive investment landscape post-Brexit.

Ireland has marked a significant milestone by registering its first three European Long-Term Investment Funds (Eltifs) under the revamped European framework, the Dublin-based national financial supervisor has told Investment Officer Luxembourg.

After a two-year hiatus, the IPO market is showing signs of life, with private equity firms seizing the opportunity to take their portfolio companies public.

One hundred years following the establishment of the inaugural open-ended equity fund, modern actively managed mutual funds appear to grapple with an ambiguous future.

Less than a week before announcing the sale of its asset management services arm, Luxembourg’s troubled investment firm Fuchs & Associés Finance - still in liquidation - was fined €785,000 by the Grand Duchy’s financial supervisor CSSF under laws on the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing.

Appetite for Luxembourg life insurance products declined significantly last year, according to the annual reports that the two largest unit-linked insurance firms, Lombard International and OneLife, posted this week.