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06/09/2013

Inflows to Italian funds continue

Funds on sale in italy in July recorded net inflows of EUR3.53bn, after EUR2.778bn in June, according to the most recent statistics from Assogestioni, the Italian association of asset managers. Since the beginning of the year, funds have seen inflows of EUR34.458bn, and as of the end of July, assets in the industry totalled EUR525.527bn. Inflows in July were driven by flexible funds, which attracted EUR2.239bn, and EUR18.387bn since the beginning of the year. Equity funds attracted EUR739m for the month, and bond funds drew in EUR584m. Taking into account closed funds and mandated management, inflows to the Italian asset management industry totalled EUR6.3bn, bringing assets of EUR1.269043trn.Intesa Sanpaolo was the firm with the largest inflows in July, with EUR1.633trn, putting it ahead of Poste Italiane (EUR678.6m) and Pioneer (EUR673.1m). Among the few firms to have posted outflows are Allianz (-EUR388.2m) and Amundi (-EUR156.1m).
06/09/2013

HFRX Global Hedge Fund index down 0.8% in August

The performance of hedge funds, as measured by the HFRX Global Hedge Fund index, was negative in the month of August, with a decline of 0.8% for the month , according to HFR statistics.The index, however, shows a positive performance of 3.4% since the beginning of the year.In the month of August, all categories of strategies have posted negative performance, totalling between -0.2% and -1.7%.
06/09/2013

SRI managers can apply for AFNOR certification

AFNOR Certification is offering managers of socially responsible investment (SRI) portfolios a means to make their commitment to quality service known, according to a statement released on 5 September. Banks, consumer associations and ratings agencies took part in the definition of the criteria to be adhered to.SRI ranges are developing in response to the expectations of distribution networks, institutional and retail investors that there should be a range of investments which, beyond financial criteria, take into account extra-financial critieria: environmental, social and governance.The Service Engagement certificate for “Socially Responsible Investment Approach” can be obtained and displayed by any portfolio manager who respects the following strict and annually audited service engagements: - analyse the ESG criteria defined, with competence and impartiality.- update and make ratings reliable on a regular bases.- build portfolios which respect the demanding rules of SRI.- control respect for the rules of SRI management independently and on an ongoing basis.- hold dialogue and votes to promote progressive approaches.- inform clients with all transparency.- improve practices on an ongoing basis.The reference documents for the Service Engagement - “Socially Responsible Investment Approach” certification also define requirements concerning organisation, monitoring and management of quality procedures.The first certified organisations are expected to be announced soon.
06/09/2013

Doctor caught up in fray of SAC Capital Advisors investigation

A famous New Jersey doctor who ran clinical trials of medicines to treat Alzheimer’s for major pharmaceutical groups, is one of the key men in an investigation into suspected insider trading by SAC Capital Advisors, the Wall Street Journal reports. Joel Ross had been one of the doctors suspected of supplying confidential information to a former SAC trader, Matthew Martoma, according to sources familiar with the matter.
06/09/2013

StarCapital awards three funds of ETFs to Markus Kaiser

The German asset management firm StarCapital on 5 September announced that it is launching three profiled funds of ETFs, Stars Defensiv, Stars Flexibel and Stars Offensiv. The three Luxembourg-registered products are managed by Markus Kaiser, one of the pioneers of funds of ETFs, who joined StarCapital in July as a member of the general management and fund manager. The funds are each available in three share classes (see attached document).For the defensive fund, allocation to equity ETFs is limited to 50%, while for the flexible fund, it may vary from 0 to 100%. The dynamic fund must have at least 50% equity ETFs in its portfolio.
06/09/2013

L'indice HFRX Global Hedge Fund en recul de 0,8% en août

La performance des hedge funds, mesurée par l’indice HFRX Global Hedge Fund, a été négative au mois d’août, avec un recul de 0,8% sur le mois, selon les statistiques de HFR.L’indice affiche toutefois une performance positive de 3,4% depuis le début de l’année.Au mois d’août, toutes les catégories de stratégies ont enregistré des performances négatives, comprises entre -0,2% et -1,7%.
06/09/2013

GCX “sustainable” index beats Dax and MSCI World

On 3 September, the Global Challenges Index (GCX) sustainable development index developed jointly by the Hanover stock exchange and the Munich-based extra-financial ratings agency oekom research celebrated its sixth anniversary. In this period, it has gained 29.28%, comapred with 8.97% for the Dax, and 17.1% for the MSCI World, while the EuroStoxx lost 20.48% between 30 August 2007 and 29 August 2013.
06/09/2013

ETP outflows in August exceed BlackRock estimates

According to ETFGI, the agency founded by Deborah Fuhr, ETPs in August saw record net redemptions of USD16.77bn, considerably more than the estimate of USD15bn advanced by the BlackRock Institute two days previously, compared with net subscriptions of USD45.26bn in July.Assets in the 4,938 ETP products from 211 providers listed 9,932 times on 57 stock markets were down as of 31 Augut to USD2.11trn, compared with a record of USD2.179trn one month previously.ETFGI estimates inflows since the beginning of the year at USD133.44bn (BlackRock had estimated USD128.1bn), compared with USD141.71bn (USD139.9bn according to BlackRock) for the first eight months of 2012.Vanguard has posted the strongest net subscriptions in August, with USD3.54bn; it is also the leader for inflows in January-August, with USD39.71bn.ProShares took second place last month, with USD1.61bn, and 6th place since the beginning of the year, with USD5.17bn. Nomura, in 7th place for assets, is in 3rd place for net subscriptions in August, with USD1.23bn, and in 12th place for net inflows in the first eight months of the year, with USD3.09bn. For its part, iShares (BlackRock), which remains the leader for assets by far, has seen net outflows of USD5.23bn in August, while retaining 2nd place for net subscriptions in January-August, with USD27.24bn.SPDR ETF (State Street Global Advisors), the second-largest in the world by assets, saw net redemptions of USD19.24bn in August, and USD7.44bn in the first eight months of the year.
06/09/2013

11 asset managers have over USD1trn in assets

The club of asset management firms with over USD1trn in assets as of the end of 2012 included 11 companies, compared with nine one year previously, according to the Global Markets 2013 study by Cerulli Associates, FondsNieuws reports. The number of firms with over USD2trn doubled to four, with BlackRock remaining the only asset management firm with over USD3rn.The 50 largest asset mangement firms as of the end of 2012 had total assets of USD38trn, which represents an increase of USD4trn in one year.The top five firms are all American: BlackRock, Fidelity, Vanguard, State Street and JPMorgan.
06/09/2013

Finnish government reduces its stake in TeliaSonera

The Finnish public investment fund Solidum on 5 September announced that it has sold shares in TediaSonera for EUR368m, bringing the government’s stake in the telecommunications operator down from 11.7% to 10.1%. The placement of 68 million shares was carried out at an average share price of EUR5.41, or SEK47.23. “We will use the proceeds (of the placement) primarily to finance distribution of profits to the government,” the CEO of Solidium, Kari Jarvinen, says in a statement. The Finnish government is planning to sell the government’s stake for about EUR500m per year, to increase budgetary revenues and ensure that the country’s triple-A credit rating can be maintained, despite a decline in tax revenues and an increase in spending due to an ageing population.
06/09/2013

Chinese insurers plan to invest in offshore real estate

Chinese insurers would be inclined to invest more than USD14bn in international real estate in the next few years, according to a recent study by the CBRE group, Asian Investor reports. Chinese insurance professionals are particularly interested in the US, British, Canadian, Singapore and Australian markets, while proximity markets are considered as a priority, such as Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. New regulations allow the Chinese insurance sector to invest up to 15% of its assets in offshore real estate.
06/09/2013

Scope gets new head of institutional clients

Berlin-based Scope ratings agency has appointed Stefan Keller as Managing Director, head of institutional clients. In this newly-created position, Keller will aim to extend the base of institutional investors in Europe worldwide, a statement released on 5 September states.“Scope has posted significant growth in the area of credit ratings in Europe, particuarly serving SMEs, structured financing and financial institutions. Offering institutional investors concise and forward-looking analysis is a strategically important activity for the ratings agency. Stefan Keller will direct the development strategy for institutional clients of Scope,” according to a statement. Keller will be based in Berlin, and will report to Florian Schoeller, CEO of Scope.Keller previously worked at Lyxor Asset Management, where he had been responsible for research and investor relations for the hedge fund platform. He previously worked as a senior economist at Exane and as an economist and strategist at CA Cheuvreux. Keller began his career in 1995 as a bond market analyst at BNP Paribas in Paris.
06/09/2013

La Caixa completes sale of its real estate affiliate to TPG

The investment fund TPG is reportedly on the verge of buyying a majority stake (51%) in Servihabitat, the real estate affiliate of La Caixa, for a total of EUR185m, the news agency Reuters reports. Following other Spanish financial institutions, La Caixa is selling its real estate activities to foreign investors. The most recent of these was Bankia, which sold its real estate unit to Cerberus (Newsmanagers of 4 September). Servihabitat Gestion Immobiliaria belongs to Criteria, the holding company for La Caixa, which also holds stakes in Gas Natural, Abertis and Aguas de Barcelona.
06/09/2013

Legg Mason releases 2 US equity funds in Germany

The Legg Mason product range in Germany is getting larger, with the release of two US equity products, managed by the ClearBridge affiliate and registered in Ireland, the Legg Mason ClearBridge Tactical Dividend Income Fund and the Legg Mason ClearBridge US Equity Income Fund. The two funds, launched on 3 June, focus on high-dividend securities, but the first of the two may also invest up to 25% or 35% in REITs and master limited partnerships (MLPs).The Legg Mason ClearBridge Tactical Dividende Income Fund is managed by Peter Vandelee and Mark McAllister, while the Legg Mason ClearBridge US Equity Income Fund is managed by Peter Vanderlee, Mike Clarfeld and Hersh Cohen, co-CIO of ClearBridge.CharacteristicsName: Legg Mason ClearBridge US Equity Income FundISIN code: IE00B7VSGS12 – Class A Acc (hedged)Benchmark index: Russell 3000 Value & S&P 500Front-end fee: maximum 5%Management commission: 1.3%Name: Legg Mason ClearBridge Tactical Dividend Income FundISIN code: IE00B9782Q97Benchmark index: Dow Jones Select Dividend Income IndexFront-end fee: maximum 5%Management commission: 1.5%
06/09/2013

Fundamental bond ETFs slow to take off

Bond ETFs which use fundamental indices are off to a slow start, the Wall Street Journal observes. The only four bond ETFs in this category represent total assets of only USD724m, according to IndexUniverse. Most of these assets are in the PowerShares Fundamental High Yield Corporate Bond ETF.
06/09/2013

M&G offers distribution shares for 14 funds in Italy

M&G Investments a annoncé que ses parts de distribution seraient désormais accessibles aux investisseurs particuliers en Italie pour 14 fonds, rapporte Bluerating. Liste des fonds concernés :Actions :M&G Global Basics FundM&G Global Dividend FundM&G Global Real Estate Securities FundM&G Pan European Dividend FundObligations :M&G European Corporate Bond FundM&G European High Yield FundM&G Emerging Markets Bond FundM&G Global Macro Bond Fund – Euro AM&G Global Macro Bond Fund – Euro A-HM&G High Yield Corporate Bond FundM&G Optimal Income FundMulti-Classes d’actifs :M&G Dynamic Allocation FundConvertibles :M&G Global Convertibles Fund - Euro AM&G Global Convertibles Fund - Euro A-H
06/09/2013

KKR acquires Mitchell for over USD1bn

The US private equity investor KKR has acquired the Mitchell company from its rival Aurora Capital, according to a statement released on 5 September, which does not state the price of the deal. According to several press agencies, the transaction is said to exceed USD1bn.Mitchell is a company specialised in IT systems and technologies for the damage insurance sector.
06/09/2013

Two managers from Oddo AM found an asset management firm

Muriel Blanchier and Xavier Hoche are setting out on their own. The two managers on 14 August left Oddo Asset Management to found their own asset management firm. The new firm will be known as AltaRocca Asset Management, and will be a subsidiary of the Primonial group, within its multi-boutique structure. The group will hold a majority 70% stake in the capital of AltaRocca Asset Management, on the same model as its partnership with Roche-Brune AM, another structure in the Primonial galaxy. At AltaRocca AM, Blanchier and Hoche will offer a range of funds on the themes of convertibles and returns, aimed at both institutitonal and retail investors. “The arrival of Muriel and Xavier confirms our ambition to develop our multi-boutique concept in asset management, to offer our clients real talent in asset management. As is the case with Roche-Brune Am and its President and Founder Bruno Fine, the AltaRocca AM company has real autonomy in management, and benefits from the distribution power of the Primonial group,” André Camo, chairman of the Primonial group, says. At Oddo AM, two new fund managers have been recruited to fill the open positions. Their names will be announced soon.
06/09/2013

Russell recruits third pension fund CIO

Peter Corippo, who for 20 years had been chief investment officer at Pacific Gas & Electic Company (PG&E), with assets of USD20bn, is joining the fiduciary solutions team at Russell Investments.The recruitment follows those of Hal Bradford, who had been responsible for USD4bn in the defined-benefit programme at Celanese, and Gary Stentz, who had managed USD8bn for the Monsanto retirement savings plan.Russell is facing strong demand from clients seeking to outsource management of their retirement savings plans, which has resulted in the asset management firm winning mandates for USD14bn in the past 18 months.
06/09/2013

Dexia AM recruits for team dedicated to health care sector

Dexia Asset Management (Dexia AM) has recruited Ward Capoen as senior analyst in charge of the biotechnology sector. Capoen, 33, has a doctorate in biotechnology from the university of Ghent, obtained in 2006, and has also earned an MBA from Vlerick Business School in Belgium, and has served an internship at Eli Lilly, one of the largest firms in the pharmaceuticals industry, a statement says. He will assist Rudi Van den Eynde, Head of Thematic Global Equity and manager of the Dexia Equities L Biotechnology fund, largely with the analysis of medical data concerning medications in testing and new treatments.
06/09/2013

NexT AM acquires 10% of Prim' Finance

NexT AM, a minority stakeholding arm of the La Française Group, has acquired 10% of capital in the Prim’ Finance group, as part of its incubation activity, via the NexT Invest fund, supported by its investor partners, a statement released on 5 September states.Prim’ Finance, an asset management firm founded in 2002 by three former partners from BNP Paribas, which has major shareholders such as the OFI group, offers mutual funds with active exposure to equity and commodity indices.“The entry of NexT AM into the capital of Prim’ Finance validates the unique character of our firm, and participates in the development of a new phase of growth. The actors concerned and the terms of the deal for us represent a sign of strong acceleration,” says Médéric de Vasselot, chairman and CEO.“NexT AM and its investors are convinced that commodity markets represent an irresistible asset class in allocations for the years to come. Prim’ Finance has succeeded with its expertise and its engagement to its client in constructing a real reputation for exellence, which has created an enriching ‘new part’ for the synergies we would like to put in place for our patners,” say Nicolas Duban and Jérôme Coirier, Chairman and CEO.As of the end of 2012, the portfolio at NexT AM included 17 holdings, including 12 asset management firms, 4 consulting firms and one distribution firm in France and internationally, for a total of over EUR4bn in assets under management or advised, via 47 open-ended funds.
06/09/2013

John Hancock Funds becomes John Hancock Investments

John Hancock funds (USD100bn in assets as of the end of June), an affiliate of the Canadian Manulife Financial via John Hancock Financial, has announced that it has changed names, to become John Hancock Investments, effective from 4 September 2013.The change in names aims to demonstrate that John Hancock does not manage only mutual funds, as it is preparing new product launches for the market.
06/09/2013

Invesco Perpetual to launch high yield fund

Invesco Perpetual is proposing to launch a high yield fund, Invesco Perpetual Global Targeted Return, which will aim to earn positive overall returns regardless of the market conditions over a rolling three-year period, Investment Week reports.The open-ended fund, domiciled in the United Kingdom, will be managed by Daviv Millar, Dave Jubb and Richard Batty, all three of whom were recruited from Standard Life Investments in September 2012. The three managed the GARS strategy, whose assets under management peaked at about GBP19bn.
06/09/2013

DEGI sells office property

Aberdeen Asset Management Deutschland has announced that it has sold the Tekes Building office property in Helsinki to the insurer Fennia for an undisclosed sum slightly above the most recent book value.The property had been in the portfolio of the open-ended real estate fund DEGI Global Business (DE000A0ETSR6), which must be liquidated by 30 June 2014.
06/09/2013

Australian Future Fund posts returns north of 15%

The Australian Future Fund has earned returns of 15.4% in the 2012-2013 fiscal year to the end of June. This result includes returns of 4.4% in the fourth quarter of the fiscal year.Assets in the Australian sovereign wealth fund totalled AUD88.9bn as of the end of June, equivalent to about USD80.4bn, a return of 6.2% since its launch in May 2006.In the past fiscal year, the Future Fund increased its exposure to equities to 40.60% as of 30 June 2013, compared with less than 33% previously (30 June 2012), and to private equity (7.30%, compared with 6.40%). However, exposure to alternative management has fallen to 15.60% from 19%, and exposure to bonds is down to 16.60% compared with 18.30%.It should be noted that Mark Burgess, managing director and president of the Future Fund Management Agency, has informed the board of directors of his intention to leave the business. Burgess has agreed to remain in his position to facilitate the transitional period. During his time in office, the assets of the Future Fund increased from AUD75bn to AUD89bn, while total assets managed by the Agency topped AUD100bn.
06/09/2013

Le Portugal confirme son retour à la croissance au deuxième trimestre

L'économie portugaise a renoué avec la croissance au deuxième trimestre. Le PIB a augmenté de 1,1% après une contraction de 0,4% au trimestre précédent, selon les données définitives de l’Institut national de la statistique. Il s’agit du premier chiffre positif de ces dix derniers trimestres. Par rapport au deuxième trimestre 2012, l'économie portugaise a subi une contraction de 2,1%, après -4,1% au premier trimestre. L'économie portugaise a été portée par les exportations, en hausse de 7,3% en variation annuelle, tandis que les contractions de l’investissement et de la consommation des ménages se sont atténuées. Lisbonne anticipe tout de même une contraction du PIB de 2,3% cette année après -3,2% en 2012.
06/09/2013

Angela Merkel pousse Francfort comme place offshore pour le yuan

La place financière de Francfort souhaite être l’un des centres offshore du yuan a dit la chancelière allemande Angela Merkel au président chinois Xi Jiping en marge du sommet du G20 à Saint-Petersbourg, rapporte l’agence de presse officielle Chine nouvelle. Hong Kong est la plus grande place offshore sur le yuan actuellement, loin devant Taipei, Singapour et Londres. Les autorités chinoises, qui souhaitent internationaliser plus largement leur devise, verraient d’un bon oeil le developpement de transactions offshore sur leur devise. La Grande-Bretagne et la Chine ont signé en juin un accord pour mettre en place une ligne de swap de devises, premier accord de ce type avec un pays du G7. Peu après cette annonce, la France s'était dit prête à jouer un «rôle central» dans l’internationalisation du yuan, plaidant elle aussi pour la mise en place d’une ligne de swap de devises avec Pékin.
06/09/2013

Le déficit budgétaire français se contracte en juillet

Le déficit du budget de l’Etat français à fin juillet s’est contracté à 80,8 milliards d’euros contre 85,5 milliards un an plus tôt à la même période, selon les données du ministère du Budget. Hors éléments non récurrents, qui ont pesé pour 7,5 milliards d’euros, il serait en amélioration de 12 milliards d’euros d’un an sur l’autre. C’est la première fois depuis le début de l’année que le déficit budgétaire affiche une baisse, grâce à une progression des rentrées fiscales sur sept mois (+9,6%) nettement supérieure à celle des dépenses du budget général (+3,5% à périmètre constant). Les recettes globales ont progressé de 8,7% à 176,4 milliards d’euros, face à des dépenses de 235,5 milliards. La hausse des recettes fiscales est tirée par les rentrées d’impôt sur le revenu (+23,8%) et d’impôt sur les sociétés (+18,7%). Mais le niveau des recettes de TVA (+0,3% à 78,4 milliards) est toujours aussi faible du fait de la conjoncture.
06/09/2013

Le tourisme limite la baisse du PIB de la Grèce au deuxième trimestre

Le produit intérieur brut (PIB) de la Grèce s’est contracté de 3,8% au deuxième trimestre, sa plus faible baisse annuelle depuis le troisième trimestre 2010, grâce à un rebond du tourisme. Le contraction est inférieure à l’estimation d’août qui donnait -4,6%, a annoncé le service de la statistique Elstat. Les exportations ont augmenté pour la première fois en cinq trimestres, mais les importations ont fortement baissé, ce qui atteste de la faiblesse de la demande intérieure. Le PIB avait diminué de 5,6% au premier trimestre.

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