Investment Officer Luxembourg

Pierre Lamelin, manager of the Comgest Growth Europe fund, has made finding value in growth companies the cornerstone of his strategy. These companies, with their unique combination of value and growth characteristics, are invariably labelled quality. The manager is convinced that these companies, given their higher and predictable earnings growth, will outperform the market in the longer term. 

In the Luxembourg financial and innovation sectors, blockchain is often discussed a key element in the financial industry’s future, mentioned alongside artificial intelligence as a way of promoting digitalisation and cutting unnecessary costs. But some who are familiar with the technology as part of the Bitcoin cryptocurrency have said that blockchain is a poor choice for this sort of application.

Every year, thousands of new investment funds see the light of day. A catchy name, an attractive website and a slick factsheet tout a new, seemingly well-thought-out investment strategy that offers investors a unique opportunity to respond to current investment themes, making use of the proven expertise of fund houses. However promising new investment funds are presented, many do not survive the test of time. 

The reaction to recent European Commission proposals for AIFMD II reform from Luxembourg finance industry participants was positive. On the whole, changes have been kept to a minimum. For Luxembourg this means the alternative fund industry’s current business model does need to change, but the country will have to manage some more back-office tasks, and needs to ensure some more substance.

Since the 1980s, a balanced portfolio has been a great alternative to a full – highly offensive – equity portfolio. A balanced portfolio typically consists of 50 percent stocks and 50 percent bonds, although the children of the bull market have gradually stretched the stock weight to 60 or even 70 percent.

The current inflation surge is similar to the one after World War II. It then took two years for inflation to cool. Long-term interest rates should start to rise, according to the online Outlook 2022 conference organised by Candriam. Anton Brender and Florence Pisani, both economists, conducted the webinar.

Quintet Private Bank has become more positive on Asia, both strategically and tactically. In the short term, the bank said that it believes that Asian high yield bonds currently offer better risk-adjusted returns than either China or Asian equities. The bank’s Bill Street said this on Tuesday during an outlook presentation and in a reply to additional questions from Fondsnieuws, Investment Officer Luxembourg’s sister publication.