Investing

Not only this year are bonds from emerging markets an attractive alternative to the volatile debt of developed economies. European asset managers are seeing a structural shift in the financial policies of these countries. Amundi has even recently merged its emerging markets and developed markets teams.

After years of underperformance, investors are once again paying attention to commodities. They are using gold to hedge against higher inflation but also recognize the growth potential tied to the energy transition.

Pimco chief executive Emmanuel Roman warned that the asset-management industry’s obsession with attracting cash risks diluting performance and investor trust.

In October, the US failed to deliver one of its most closely watched economic reports: the monthly jobs data. The blackout has deepened doubts over whether the world’s largest economy can still produce reliable data, even once the releases resume.

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.

Government bonds from countries that score high on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals have outperformed the global market-weighted bond index over the past three years.

Assets in gold ETFs and ETCs have more than doubled worldwide in just two years, rising from nearly 200 to 439 billion dollars. “In the current gold rally, these instruments have gained significant momentum.”

With inflation still running close to 3 percent, investors warn the Federal Reserve may be cutting into a “stagflation-lite” backdrop: weaker growth alongside stubborn price pressures.

Pension funds represent a strategic reservoir to finance innovation and the climate transition in Europe. Despite estimated assets of 2.7 to 3.55 trillion euro, their exposure to venture capital remains marginal: barely 0.1 percent of portfolios, according to a study published by European Women in VC, Pensions for Purpose and Venture Connections.