‘21% of European open-ended funds promote sustainability'
More than a fifth of European Ucits funds claim to be compatible with Article 8 or 9 of the new European Sustainability Regulation SFDR in their prospectus. ‘Interpretation of the definitions varies greatly, with some managers taking a much looser approach than others,’ notes head of sustainability research at Morningstar Hortense Bioy in conversation with Investment Officer.
Sustainable Investment Report 2020: "people want to see change"
In a foreword to our annual Sustainable Investment Report, our group chief executive Peter Harrison explains how 2020 changed the way people feel about sustainability.
European asset manager fees recover from coronavirus hit
Management fee revenues by European asset managers climbed by 10% during the second half of 2020 thanks to an increase in assets under management and stronger fund inflows, according to research by Moody’s Investor Service.
Morningstar: How the EU is Helping Investors Navigate ESG
The EU’s latest regulation is the most extensive work so far in helping investors to navigate the fast-growing choice of ESG and sustainable investment products
PGIM: A Five-Part Framework For ESG Disclosures in Global Leveraged Finance
PGIM Fixed Income discusses ESG effects on credit fundamentals.
ING merges Benelux investment offices
ING has merged the bank’s investment offices in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. ‘The aim of the operation is to become stronger together,’ says Bob Homan, who heads up the Investment Office which now employs 50 people.
The rationale behind the merger is that the investment offices of the country organisations actually do the same work. ‘They focus on research, asset allocation, selection of instruments and communication,’ says Homan in an interview with Investment Officer. The merger did not cost any jobs.
UBS AM: Prognosis for 2021 is less negative for APAC Real Estate
Investors are searching for that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
SKAGEN: ESG in Emerging Markets
Consistent with SKAGEN Kon-Tiki’s long-term investment approach in emerging markets, ESG considerations have been part of our fundamental research process when picking portfolio companies, long before ESG became a buzzword.
Asset management: 5 turbulent years ahead
Some predict technology will undermine the rationale behind the investment fund. Others see it driving greater sophistication, and a narrowing of the gap between the asset manager and the wealth manager. Yet the message is clear: although Luxembourg can congratulate itself on recording €5trn assets, it must be sufficiently agile to adapt.
Allfunds plans IPO in Amsterdam
Fund platform Allfunds has announced its intention to list its shares on the Euronext Amsterdam stock exchange “in the coming weeks”. The announcement comes just days after it became public that Allfunds is planning to launch its first 12 mandate solutions on its fund platform.