Sector

Private investment-laden portfolios of US university funds achieved a net return of 7.7 per cent in FY2023, but the gains were almost entirely due to public equities.  

Historically, university funds with larger endowments tend to achieve better one-year investment returns than funds with smaller endowments due to significant allocations to private investing. The rise in the US stock market and disappointing returns on alternative investments reversed the trend in 2023.

Luxembourg’s financial regulator CSSF has updated its guidance for the crypto investment landscape, clarifying that only ‘well-informed investors’ within alternative investment funds can tread into the virtual asset territory.

In the latest report from MSCI ESG Research, a nuanced picture emerges on the state of gender diversity within corporate boards. Despite a marginal uptick in the percentage of women directors, concerns loom over the slowing pace of change, according to the annual Women on Boards and Beyond report.

Tom Theobald has been been appointed to succeed Nicholas Mackel as the head Luxembourg for Finance, the country’s state-sponsored association that advocates for the interests of the grand duchy’s financial sector. He will take on the new role from 1 September.

The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg accounts for 36% of UCITS assets globally, indicating numerous advantages to domiciling an investment fund here. However, as the investment landscape evolves, its competitiveness is diminishing, particularly in comparison to jurisdictions such as Ireland.

This week’s overview of transfers, appointments, promotions and other people news includes updates from Pictet, Crestbridge and PwC Luxembourg. 

Luxembourg’s lawmakers are making strides in proposals aimed at alleviating the tax burden on actively managed Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), aligning their fiscal treatment with that of standard passive ETFs, a senior industry voice made clear on Tuesday.

Luxembourg’s financial sector grapples with a stark wake-up call as concerns mount over its nonchalant stance towards impending cyber regulations outlined in the Dora Act; a prominent politician’s apprehensions highlight critical questions surrounding banks’ preparedness and the looming specter of potential sanctions.

In comparison to some other European countries, including Luxembourg and Germany, investors in the Netherlands appear hesitant to embrace the new generation of Eltif funds at the moment. Questions to private banks and wealth managers in the Netherlands reveal a restrained level of enthusiasm.

Investors have been liquidating billions of euros in assets in European real estate funds for a year now. German investors in particular have been remarkably active in selling their property positions.