ANALYSIS: Is M&A a raw deal for asset managers?
The ‘squeeze’ on asset managers’ balance sheets is well known, while recent deals in the sector have failed to cheer shareholders, but there are nonetheless pointers to the industry’s future winners.
Analysis
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Don’t forget about base currency risk
Standard practice among investors is to hedge away foreign currency risk in fixed-income portfolios. But that could increase another sort of currency risk that is often missed.
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ANALYSIS: Markets shrug off May’s Article 50 notification – are they right?
Theresa May is picking an early fight with EU leaders in her letter in which she formally announced the start of the UK’s Brexit process. Bond, equity and currency markets hardly responded. But perhaps they should have.
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Give Brits the option to remain European citizens post-Brexit, says Verhofstadt
Article 50 has now been triggered, and the UK will leave the European Union in two years time. But Brexit shouldn’t result in UK citizens losing their European citizenship against their will, said the European Parliament’s chief Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt.
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‘Brexometer’ stormy as global executives forecast fall in profits
Law firm Hogan Lovells found that two thirds of respondents in its ‘Brexometer’ survey believe Brexit will reduce their profitability over the next five years.
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ANALYSIS: Fixed maturity funds – Has the opportunity passed?
2016 saw some highly successful launches of fixed maturity bond funds as investors took the opportunity to lock in attractive yields combined with reduced duration risk. But are such products still worth buying now, with credit spreads having sunk below their long-time average?
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How low can sterling go?
Sterling took another pounding on Tuesday morning after the UK Parliament approved the Article 50 bill – but with at least two years of negotiations ahead, could the currency fall even further?
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No basis for hawkish turn as ECB holds firm
A meeting of the European Central Bank heralded few surprises on Thursday, but added fuel to speculation QE will continue past 2017,albeit in a tempered fashion.
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ANALYSIS: ‘Defensive’ Aberdeen/SL deal fits in with asset manager M&A wave
After being forced to confirm discussions about a potential £11bn merger, does the consolidation of Standard Life and Aberdeen Asset Management prove a wave of M&A in fund management is underway?
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ANALYSIS: America first, European exporters last?
While President Donald Trump said very little on trade policy during his address to Congress on Tuesday, his ‘America First’ mantra rang clear. But where does that leave European exporters?
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Fund buyers regain appetite for European equities
European equities are once again investors’ favourite, as the eurozone economy is showing signs of acceleration. US equity sentiment, meanwhile, has taken a hit.
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ANALYSIS: Hawkish Yellen should continue on hiking path
Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen offered the market a hawkish message on Tuesday as she indicated the US economy might be poised for a series of gradual interest rate increases, starting as early as next month.