Investors cannot afford inaction
Like many others, I headed to Norway this summer. One of the first things to strike you is the excellent electric vehicle (EVs) infrastructure. Everywhere you look there are ample charging points – the signs of a unified and supportive government taking meaningful action.
Private debt momentum keeps up, but challenges lurk
Luxembourg’s private debt market has been flourishing. But products that can pose systemic risks, difficulties with valuation, and potential misunderstandings of the risks involved in the market are issues lurking in the shadows.
Haroon Sheikh: ‘Struggle between great powers has only just begun’
The long-assumed stability of Europe is over. Wars on the periphery, a crumbling system of free world trade, and great powers using economic interdependence as a weapon: the continent is under pressure. “The world in which investors must navigate has become more unpredictable.”
Transfers: Amundi’s Taillardat sets up quant team at E. de Rothschild
This week’s overview of people transfers and appointments includes updates from Edmond de Rothschild Asset Management, KPMG and BDO Luxembourg, and Marktlink Capital.
RBC BlueBay: US Heading for Government Shutdown
An extended US government shutdown could have modest economic downside risks, but we think it’s unlikely to materially impact the macro outlook.
Trump’s new Fed governor openly defies Fed consensus
Open defiance from Stephen Miran underscores political tensions at the Fed, though markets still expect gradual easing.
Van Lanschot Kempen partners with State Street for active ETFs
Van Lanschot Kempen is preparing to enter the active ETF market through a new partnership with State Street Investment Management. The Amsterdam-based boutique, known for its smallcap and euro credit strategies, will rely on State Street’s infrastructure and distribution networks to launch its first exchange-traded funds within six to nine months.
ALFI’s pep rally shows private markets’ promise, and their limits
At ALFI’s private assets conference in Kirchberg, policymakers and asset managers championed private markets as vital for Europe’s growth and as a bridge for retail investors through ELTIFs. Yet speakers also warned that education gaps, transparency issues, and regulatory hurdles could constrain the sector’s ambitions.
ESG is losing its shine but gaining weight
Once seen as compliance or ideology, ESG is becoming part of ordinary risk management. Interviews with asset owners, managers and analysts in Amsterdam, the UK and the Netherlands show how sustainability is increasingly embedded in long term investment strategies.
Morningstar: BNP, Amundi mergers test investor patience
Amundi and BNP Paribas pursue scale and expertise through mergers, but integration challenges create uncertainty over long-term benefits for investors.