Investing

This column is not about where that economic recession remains, but about an earnings recession that has passed. At least, if my global profit indicator is to be believed.

It’s fascinating to observe central bankers like Federal Reserve Chairman Jay Powell outside their usual realm, especially on platforms like CBS’s “60 Minutes.” Powell’s candid admission about the US being on an unsustainable fiscal path is a concern is shared by many investors, including myself, particularly regarding the sustainability of mounting debt used to stimulate economic growth.

Berlin-based Moonfare said it plans to create a dedicated secondary liquidity mechanism that enables retail investors in Eltif 2.0 funds to unwind their holdings before the fund matures.

The Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) recent move to mandate increased disclosure of fees and other costs by private equity funds has sparked a legal battle with the PE industry. Lawyers representing both the SEC and the PE industry engaged in a heated argument in a US federal court in New Orleans.

Amundi, Europe’s biggest asset manager, on Wednesday confirmed that it has agreed to acquire Alpha Associates, a Swiss-based specialist firm in private equity, private debt and infrastructure investments, boosting its presence in the European private markets sector. Financial details were not disclosed.

The landscape of the technology industry has been dramatically reshaped since the onset of the coronavirus crisis, with big tech companies witnessing their operating profit margins leap from 24 to 29 percent. In stark contrast, other companies have seen a decline of two percentage points in the same period. This trend, far from fostering competition, is solidifying a ‘winner-takes-all’ economy.

Experts from Schroders, Robeco, and Franklin Templeton advise maintaining a cautious stance on the valuation of US equities, highlighting that key interest rates are likely to decrease more slowly than market expectations.

Annually, Schroders, Franklin Templeton, and Robeco host their Investment Forum in Brussels. At this event, specialists from these three asset management firms shared their projections for the newly commenced financial year and offered insights on strategic portfolio positioning.

Amid widespread cautionary optimism, some economists say the global economy is still at risk of a recession, and that we may not be out of the inflationary woods quite yet. Guy Wagner, chief investment officer at Banque de Luxembourg Investments, or BLI, lays out the bear case.

“The fact that up to now the recession has not yet happened does not mean that it will certainly never happen,” said Wagner at a press event in Luxembourg last week. BLI manages assets worth about 15 billion euro.

“I’ve got to say, I’m usually skeptical of the phrase “This time is different.” More often than not, it’s not. But the persistent strength of the U.S. economy, particularly the job market, is making me think twice. Maybe this time really is different.

Luxembourg funds continued their recovery from a slight decline in October 2023 by amounting at year-end to 5.285 trillion euros, up 5.1% over the past year,