21/02/2011
« Nous sommes beaucoup plus confiants sur le secteur de l’énergie »
Andy Warwick, gérant au sein de l’équipe multigestion de BlackRock (BMACS)
21/02/2011
« Les entreprises semblent bien valorisées en Europe »
Philippe Troesch , directeur général d’Aberdeen Asset Management France
21/02/2011
BC Partners à l’affût de Phones 4u
Le distributeur britannique de téléphonie mobile pourrait être vendu au cours des toutes prochaines semaines après que BC Partners a de nouveau pris activement contact avec Providence Equity Partners. Le montant de la transaction pourrait avoisiner 700 millions de livres, l’équivalent de 830 millions d’euros.
21/02/2011
Remise en cause de l’offre d'Etisalat sur Zain
L’offre de 12 milliards de dollars lancée par Etisalat, l’opérateur télécoms des Emirats arabes unis, sur le koweïtien Zain est mise en péril par le refus de ce dernier de remplir une condition clé de l’accord. Hier, la cible a rejeté toutes les offres portant sur la vente de ses parts dans ses activités en Arabie Saoudite, qui était l’une des conditions imposées pour que le rachat de l’opérateur puisse avoir lieu. Etisalat souhaite se développer à l'étranger depuis qu’elle a perdu son monopole national en 2007. Le groupe a proposé en septembre dernier d’acheter 46% du capital de Zain à l’actionnaire majoritaire, le conglomérat familial Kharafi. Mais l’opération a rencontré de multiples obstacles, notamment un recours en justice lancé par des actionnaires de Zain hostiles au projet. Etisalat a déjà à deux reprises prolongé le délai qu’il s'était imposé pour conclure la revue détaillée des comptes de sa proie.
21/02/2011
Moncler file vers la Bourse de Milan
L'équipementier sportif français pourrait être coté à la Bourse de Milan d’ici cet été. C’est ce qu’a indiqué dans le cadre d’un entretien à Il Sole 24 Ore un responsable de l’actionnaire majoritaire, Carlyle. Selon le co-directeur du fonds pour l’Europe, Marco De Benedetti, Moncler pourrait être introduit en Bourse pour un montant total équivalant à 10 à 12 fois son excédent brut d’exploitation 2011, soit environ un milliard d’euros. Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley et Intesa Sanpaolo planchent sur le dossier.
18/02/2011
La Chine relève une nouvelle fois les réserves obligatoires des banques
La banque centrale chinoise a relevé pour la deuxième fois en 2011 le coefficient des réserves obligatoires des banques du pays, de 50 points de base, afin de lutter contre l’inflation. C’est la huitième hausse depuis le début de l’année 2010. Elle porte le ratio de réserves requises à un plus haut record de 19,5%. Ce relèvement serait effectif le 24 février. Par cette mesure, Pékin espère drainer les excédents de liquidités circulant dans l'économie et freiner l’inflation. L’inflation en Chine a accéléré moins que prévu en janvier, ressortant à 4,9% sur douze mois, mais les pressions sur les prix ont continué à s’accroître et devraient pousser la banque centrale à poursuivre son resserrement monétaire.
18/02/2011
Deuxième jour consécutif de pic pour les prêts d'urgence de la BCE
Les prêts d’urgence à 24 heures de la Banque centrale européenne (BCE) sont restés exceptionnellement élevés vendredi pour la deuxième journée d’affilée. Le montant des prêts consentis par la BCE, plus de 16 milliards d’euros, affiche son plus haut niveau depuis juin 2009. Jeudi, l’institut d'émission avait déjà alloué plus de 15 milliards d’euros de prêts d’urgence, soit une brusque poussée de fièvre après seulement 1,2 milliard de prêts la veille. Habituellement, les prêts d’urgence à 24 heures de la BCE ne dépassent pas le milliard d’euros. Pour expliquer ces montants inhabituels, les traders évoquaient un établissement qui n’aurait pas emprunté assez lors des opérations hebdomadaires de la BCE.
18/02/2011
L'Allemagne est prête à aider le Portugal
Le ministre des Finances allemand Wolfgang Schäuble a fait savoir que l’Allemagne est prête à soutenir le Portugal en cas de difficulté à se financer sur les marchés, mais a toutefois souligné qu’il n’y avait pas urgence, rapporte le quotidien économique Nikkei.
18/02/2011
La croissance française pourrait approcher les 2% en 2011
La croissance économique de la France pourrait se rapprocher cette année de la prévision de 2 % du gouvernement, déclare le gouverneur de la Banque de France, Christian Noyer, dans un entretien au Monde. A 0,3%, la croissance du produit intérieur brut (PIB) français a été inférieure de moitié aux attentes au quatrième trimestre 2010, donnant un chiffre de 1,5% sur l’ensemble de l’année écoulée, ce qui rend d’autant plus ambitieuse la prévision gouvernementale.
18/02/2011
L'Inde opposée à un contrôle global des flux de capitaux
Il revient à chaque pays de gérer les flux de capitaux le concernant, a déclaré le ministre indien des Finances Pranab Mukherjee, opposé en la matière à la mise en oeuvre d’un mécanisme global de contrôle.
18/02/2011
Net rebond des ventes au détail en Grande-Bretagne
Les ventes au détail en Grande-Bretagne ont fortement rebondi en janvier après avoir connu un très mauvais mois de décembre dû aux mauvaises conditions hivernales, a annoncé vendredi l’Office national des statistiques. Les ventes au détail, carburants inclus, ont augmenté de 1,9% en janvier après un recul de 1,4% en décembre. Sur un an, les ventes ont augmenté de 5,3%, soit la plus forte hausse depuis novembre 2004.
18/02/2011
Les emprunts portugais à cinq ans au plus haut
Le rendement des obligations portugaises à cinq ans a atteint un nouveau record depuis la création de l’euro vendredi, toujours sous pression des investisseurs qui craignent que Lisbonne ne soit contraint de faire appel à une aide internationale. Le rendement du papier portugais à cinq ans a grimpé à 7,193%, dépassant son record atteint la veille depuis la création de l’euro.
18/02/2011
Janus launches five funds in Italy
p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Janus Capital International Limited, the international division of Janus Capital Group, has added to its range of products on sale to retail clients in Italy. The Italian market authority, Consob, has granted a license for sale to retail investors of five funds from the Denver-based asset management firm, including three equities funds – Janus US Fund, Perkins Global Value Fund, and Emerging Market Fund – and two bond funds – Janus Global Investment Grade and Janus Global High-Yield Fund. “The launch of these five funds in Italy confirms our commercial strategy, which is increasingly oriented to the retail distribution segment, which since January has access to a wider range of funds,” says Andrea Cardone, director of sales for southern Europe at Janus Capital Group. “Though for many years we have offered products on the Italian market which were focused in the United States exclusively, the time has come to also offer our expertise on global markets,” he adds.
18/02/2011
UniCreidt studying a potential Pioneer-Eurizon merger
p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } For the first time, the strategy committee at UniCredit on Thursday considered the possibility of an alliance between its affiliate Pioneer and Eurizon, the asset management unit of Intesa-Sanpaolo, Il Sole – 24 Ore reports. The committee is reported to have tasked the management, led by CEO Federico Ghizzoni, to enumerate the potential advantages of a merger with the Intesa Sanpaolo affiliate. The Italian newspaper also reports that the sale process for Pioneer is entering its final phase, and that in early March, BofA-Merrill Lynch, which is advising UniCredit, is awaiting bids from the final three candidates to buy the business, Amundi, Natixis and Resolution.
18/02/2011
Average assets in Spanish funds as of the end of 2010 down to EUR56m
p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } According to statistics from the Inverco association of asset management firms, average assets in 2,489 funds registered in Spain totalled EUR56m, compared with EUR63m as of the end of 2009, and EUR82m as of the end of 2007.Total assets of EUR138.08bn represented 16.3% of GDP as of the end of 2010, compared with 26.6% in 2007, and 31.7% in 2000.Assets in funds and total assets as a percentage of GDP as of the end of December were at their lowest levels since 1990, when they totalled EUR28bn and 2.2%, respectively.
18/02/2011
Netherlands' APG picks up a new head of corporate governance
p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } APG Asset Management, the management firm for the pension fund for public employees in the Netherlands, has appointed Claudia Kruse as head of corporate governance. Kruse, who joined APG in 2009 as a senior specialist in sustainable development and governance, succeeds to Paul Trentrop, who left the business at the end of 2010 to found his own firm.
18/02/2011
Jordi Padilla becomes CEO of Popular Gestión Privada
p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Following the departure at the end of December of Guillermo Santos Aramburo, who has become director and head of strategy at Icapital, Jordi Padilla has been appointed CEO of Popular Gestión Privada, Funds People reports. Padilla, who joined the firm in 2008, was previously CIO for equities, and directly managed the PBP Gestión Flexible and PBP Cartera Fexible funds.
18/02/2011
Banco Popular sells its asset management affiliate to Allianz
p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } According to sources familiar with the matter, Banco Popular is in the process of completing a sale of 60% of its asset management affiliate Popular Gestión to Allianz for about EUR100m. According to Expansión, the German insurer may also acquire Popular Gestión Privada, the asset management arm ou the private banking unit of the group, to replace Dexia, which would sell its 40% stake in the capital of the business.The agreement over Popular Gestión would specify that Popular will continue to distribute funds from Popular Gestión via its network; in addition, the bank would pledge to maintain a minimal level of investment in products from Popular Gestión.
18/02/2011
Inflows of nearly EUR900m for FIP and FCPI vehicles in 2010
p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } According to a survey by the AFIC and AFG of “fundraising in 2010 by FIP and FCPI” vehicles, 124,000 savings investors subscribed to one of 48 FIP funds (Fonds d’Investissement de Proximité), and/or 42 FCPI vehicles (Fonds Commun de Placement dans l’Innovation) created in 2010.Inflows in 2010 raised EUR894m from retail clients, of which EUR835m went to funds created in 2010 alone, a statement released on 17 February states. Despite a slight increase in the average amount of subscriptions (EUR6,700, compared with EUR6,650 in 2009), these levels remain below the levels observed in 2009 (EUR898m) as well as 2008 (EUR1.13bn), the year which marked the peak for inflows to FIP and FCPI vehicles. 2010 FIPs attracted EUR389m, while 2010 FCPIs raised EUR446m.
18/02/2011
Profits and assets up at MFS
p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The US management firm MFS Investment Management, an affiliate of the Canadian Sun Life Financial, in 2010 earned net income of USD202m, compared with USD136m the previous year, while pre-tax profit margin increased to 30% from 26% due to an increase in average assets to USD197bn, from USD153bn.As of the end of December, assets under management totalled USD222bn, compared with USD187bn one year previously. This increase of USD35bn is due to net subscriptions of USD14.2bn and a market appreciation of USD20.3bn.
18/02/2011
Annual results up for Morningstar
p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The US group Morningstar in 2010 earned net profits of EUR86.4m, or EUR1.70 per share, compared with USD82.1m and USD1.65 per share for the previous year. In fourth quarter, net profits rose to USD27.4m, compared with USD14.8m one year previously.
18/02/2011
Trendy strategies tend to underperform
p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Strategies which earn the highest inflows in a given quarter very often see a large decline in their returns in the following quarter, according to a study undertaken in fourth quarter 2010 by TrimTabs, in partnership with Informa Investment Solutions. In other words, following too readily along with the flock may be a highly costly mistake for institutional investors. As an example, TrimTabs points to investors’ sudden interest in US bonds, and outflows from US equities funds in third quarter 2010. Investors who followed this trend were probably negatively affected by the movements observed recently, as they would have missed the rally in US equities.
18/02/2011
BBVA and Citic create a new commodities index
p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } With its Chinese partner, Citic Carbon Assets Management, BBVA has launched an index of shares in companies of the natural resources and commodities sectors, with the intention of subsequently releasing investment products based on the benchmark index, Cinco Días reports. The selection of businesses for the new Rogers Global Resources Equity Index (RGREI) will be undertaken by Jim Rogers.
18/02/2011
Henderson recruits a fund manager from AMP
p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Tom Gibson, director & European fund manager in the indirect real estate investment team at AMP Capital Brookfield, has joined Henderson Global Investors as head of property equities, Asia.Gibson will be based in Singapore, and will manage the Henderson Horizon Asia-Pacific Property Equities Fund with Michael Wong and Eric Khaw, as well as the Asian investments of the Hernderson Global Property Equities Fund. He will also manage mandates, which all in all represents a total of about USD1bn.Gibson will report to Patrick Summer, head of property equities.
18/02/2011
Barclays WM France launches an Asian equities fund
p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Barclays Wealth Managers France has launched the Barclays Equity Asia fund, a sub-fund of its Luxembourg Sicav, investing in Asian equities. The new fund is advised by Philip Niem, head of discretionary management at Barclays Wealth Asia, based in Hong Kong, and his team. Niem manages USD300m in assets with the same method used for the new fund. The objective for Barclays Equity Asia is to invest in businesses expected to profit from economic growth in China, India, and other surrounding Asian countries (excluding Japan), and to outperform its benchmark index (90% MSCI AC Asia ex Japan 10% cash) by 5% per year. Allocation by country is determined on the basis of the size of the economy, the balance of payments, growth in corporate profits and price/earnings ratio for the market. Niem will then select sectors which he estimates will outperform national GDP growth. Within these sectors, the head of discretionary management will select 40 businesses. Currently, Niem favours the banking sector in India, the consumer sector in China, and commodities. The Barclays Equity Asia fund, which has recently received a sales license from the AMF, now has total assets of USD30m. It will be sold via the Barclays Wealth network, as well as to funds of funds and institutional investors.
18/02/2011
Fidelity Investments extends its product range with iShares ETFs
p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The online broker Fidelity Investments has celebrated the first anniversary of its partnership with BlackRock in ETFs, and increased the number of iShares ETFs available for free trading from 25 to 30.The five ETFs available to investors for free are the iBoxx High Yield Corporate Bond Fund (HYG), iShares Dow Jones Select Dividend Index Fund (DVY), iShares Dow Jones International Select Dividend Fund (IDV), iShares Dow Jones US Real Estate Index Fund (IYR) and iShares MSCI ACWI ex US Index Fund (ACWX).
18/02/2011
SEC investigates municipal bond funds
p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating whether some funds have overestimated the value of certain high-risk municipal bonds which are rarely traded, the Wall Street Journal reports, citing sources familiar with the matter. The enquiry is part of an investigation into potential municipal bond market abuse.
18/02/2011
Madoff: Lawyers and consultants will pocket USD1.3bn
p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The army of lawyers and consultants at work on recovering the money involved in Bernard Madoff’s USD19.6bn fraud will posket more than USD1.3bn in commissions, the Financial Times reports, citing new figures detailing the cost of liquidating the Ponzi scheme. The largest check will go to Baker Hostetler, the law firm where Irving Picard, the legally-appointed trustee, is a partner. He will receive USD603m for his work between 2011 and 2014, on top of a payment of USD128m already received.
18/02/2011
Funds represent half the volume of retail securities accounts
p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } According to a study by the German private sector banking association (BdB) on the basis of statistics from the Bundesbank, as of the end of 2010 there were about 27 million holders of securities accounts in Germany, with a total of EUR783bn in assets. Of this total, shares in investment funds represented EUR387bn, compared with EUR224bn for bonds, and EUR172bn for equities.German banks administer a total of about EUR2trn in securities, also including securities accounts belonging to insurers, businesses, public authorities and various institutions.
18/02/2011
Frankfurt exchange will soon list 800 ETFs
p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } With 12 new Luxembourg-registered ETFs from RBS, which were admitted to trading on the XTF segment of the Xetra platform from Deutsche Börse on 17 February, the number of products now listed now comes to 791.In addition to the four funds already announced, based on the Stoxx and Dax indices (see Newsmanagers of 17 February), RBS has launched eight more, four of which are based on FTSE indices, three on S&P indices, and one on the Topix.Commissions range from 0.30% to 0.65%.The twelve new products are the following: RBS Market Access EuroStoxx 50 Monthly Double Short Index ETF(LU0562665777), with a TER of 0,50%RBS Market Access EuroStoxx 50 Monthly Leverage Index ETF (LU0562665694) ; 0,30%RBS Market Access LevDAX X2 Monthly Index ETF (LU0562665348) ; 0,35%RBS Market Access Leveraged FTSE 100 Monthly Index ETF (LU0562666072) ; 0,50%RBS Market Access Leveraged FTSE MIB Monthly Index ETF (LU0562666239) : 0,60%RBS Market Access S&P 500 EUR Hedged Index ETF (LU0562681899) ; 0,30%RBS Market Access S&P GSCI Capped Component 35/20 2x Inverse Monthly Index ETF (LU0562665934) ; 0,65%RBS Market Access S&P GSCI Capped Component 35/20 2x Leverage Monthly Index ETF (LU0562665850) ; 0,65%RBS Market Access Short FTSE 100 Monthly Index ETF (LU0562666155) ; 0,60%RBS Market Access Short FTSE MIB Monthly Index ETF (LU0562666312) ; 0,60%RBS Market Access ShortDAX X2 Monthly Index ETF (LU0562665421) ; 0,60%RBS Market Access TOPIX EUR Hedged Index ETF (LU0562666403) ; 0,50%