Anne Velot, responsable de la gestion crédit euro chez Axa IM

Après le signal envoyé aux investisseurs par la PBOC qui a laissé le yuan chuter de 1,4% en février, la devise s'est reprise la semaine dernière

Elles redoutent l'encadrement de la facturation des services d'accès aux entreprises proposé par la Financial Conduct Authority en novembre

La société a créé une société commune avec Capzanine pour collecter un fonds de dette destiné aux PME et aux ETI, cotées comme non cotées

Le Fonds de Compensation (FDC), 12,3 milliards euros d’encours sous gestion, vient de remplacer un ses gérants actions monde. Le FDC a attribué le mandat de gestion du compartiment FDC SICAV Actions Monde - Actif 2 à Kleinwort Benson Investors. Invesco Asset Management a été écarté en raison de performance insatisfaisante, selon Marc Fries, le président du comité d’investissement. Pour l’institution luxembourgeoise, l’objectif de ce compartiment est de surperformer son indice de référence, à savoir le MSCI World Total Return (net) exprimé en USD et converti en EUR. Les actifs du Compartiment sont gérés de manière active afin de maximiser la performance pour le niveau de risque spécifié (tracking error) dans le mandat de gestion. La stratégie dinvestissement actuelle du Fonds de Compensation : Actions 32,5% (dont actions monde 25%, actions marchés émergents 5%, small cap 2,5%) Obligations 54% (dont obligations libellées en euro 26,5%, obligations monde couvertes 25%, obligations marchés émergents 2,5%) Immobilier 8% (biens immobiliers Luxembourg 5%, biens immobiliers monde 3,5%) Liquidités libellées en euros 5%

Dans un entretien au magazine, le ministre fédéral allemand des transports Alexander Dobrindt a indiqué qu’il présenterait au cours du premier semestre 2014 un projet de loi instaurant des péages autoroutiers pour les voitures particulières étrangères. Il ajoute que près de 5 milliards d’euros seront consacrés durant la présente législature à l’amélioration du réseau routier et autoroutier du pays.

Selon le quotidien qui se réfère aux derniers travaux de la Direction générale du Trésor, l’écart s’est considérablement réduit depuis trois ans en matière d’impôts sur les sociétés (IS) selon la taille des entreprises. Alors qu’une étude datant de 2011 faisait ressortir un écart de 20 points dans le taux implicite de l’impôt payé par les grands groupes (19%) et celui des PME (39%), cet écart est désormais de 6 points (26% contre 32%). La réduction de la déductibilité des charges financières, la limitation du report en avant des déficits ou la surtaxe d’impôt sur les sociétés visant les grandes entreprises ont donc eu les effets escomptés, conclut le journal.

Selon le Shanghai Securities News qui cite le président de la Commission de régulation boursière chinoise Xiao Gang, Pékin étudie une réglementation plus favorable au marché concernant les retraits de cote et ces nouvelles règles pourraient être publiées d’ici à la fin de cette année. La réforme porterait également sur les procédures de transfert entre les différentes places boursières du pays.

«Compte tenu de la progression du nombre d’introductions en Bourse, l’AMF lance un groupe de travail sur le dispositif réglementaire existant en France, en particulier, au regard de la pratique d’autres pays européens», a annoncé vendredi l’Autorité des marchés financiers. «Les échanges réguliers entre l’AMF et les intermédiaires sur des questions concrètes soulevées par certains dossiers d’introductions en Bourse récents» ont fait émerger les thèmes de réflexion suivants : la structuration des IPO, les règles d’encadrement du prix, la présentation des critères d’appréciation de la fourchette de prix, et l’articulation du calendrier des introductions autour de l’élaboration des rapports de recherche et de la publication du document de base. «Ces travaux seront menés au regard des préoccupations de Place sur les contraintes de délais qui entourent le calendrier des introductions en Bourse», promet l’AMF.

Le nombre de créations d’emplois a été plus élevé que prévu en février aux Etats-Unis. Le pays a gagné 175.000 emplois le mois dernier, après 129.000 en janvier, a annoncé le département du Travail vendredi. Toutefois, le taux de chômage a augmenté à 6,7% contre un plus bas de cinq ans de 6,6% en janvier. Les économistes interrogés par Reuters anticipaient 149.000 créations d’emplois et un taux de chômage stable à 6,6%.

L’euro a inscrit vendredi à la mi-séance un pic de 1,3915 dollar, sans précédent depuis le quatrième trimestre 2011, avant de refluer à 1,3864 vers 17h30. La BCE a précisé que les banques rembourseraient la semaine prochaine 11,401 milliards d’euros sur les prêts à trois ans (LTRO) contractés en décembre 2011 et février 2012, soit plus de six fois plus ce que que les analystes interrogés par Reuters avaient prévu. L’envolée de la monnaie unique s’explique aussi par l’inaction de la BCE à la suite de sa réunion mensuelle, le 6 mars.

Le Parlement européen ne se prononcera pas avant les élections européennes de mai sur le projet de directive préparé par la Commission sur les indices de marché et destiné à prévenir leur manipulation, a déclaré vendredi la présidente de sa commission des Affaires économiques et monétaires, Sharon Bowles. Le projet européen de régulation des indices de marchés a été présenté l’année dernière par la Commission européenne en réaction à la manipulation des taux Libor.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The index of European investor sentiment by Invesco reflects a persistent appetite for high-risk asses. 55% of the 100 fund selectors surveyed, encouraged by confidence in the economy, were planning to increase their allocation to European equities in the next 12 months. 54% were planning to invest more in emerging markets, and 34% in the Asia-Pacific region. Bonds are the asset class which investors wish to reduce the most. About 28% are planning to reduce their investments in US Treasury bonds, compared with 21% in the prevoius survey, followed by euro zone government bonds (23%) and US corporate bonds (17%). The survey also finds that 46% of respondents have a favourable opinion of the global economy. “This percentage is lower than the 55% in June 2013, but far higher than the level 18 months ago, when only 17% were confident in the economic environment,” Invesco says.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Larry Fink, the CEO of BlackRock, has said that the rapid take up of technology in developing countries was endangering jobs to such an extent that it was becoming the “black swan of the times,” Financial News reports. The director was speaking on Wednesday at the annual conference of the National Association of Pension Funds in the United Kingdom. Fink added that he expects the term “emerging markets” to cease to have much relevance for investors, as the region is so heterogeneous.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } It is the end of an era at Henderson Global Investors (Henderson GI). After 17 years at the asset mangement firm, Patrick Sumner, head of global property equities since 2004, will be retiring this June.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Inflows to ETPs worldwide totalled USD27.2bn in February, according to initial estimates from BlackRock. Inflows to bonds in particular totalled USD19.6bn, a monthly record, due to outlooks of continued low interest rates and inflation at continuing highly moderate levels. Inflows to Treasury bonds represented USD11.4bn, with the corporate debt and investment grade segments bringing in USD3.6bn, and high yield USD1.4bn. Short maturity funds brought in USD7.4bn. In equities, inflows totalled USD5.8bn, with investors continuing to prefer exposure to developed markets outside the United States. Japanese equity funds attracted USD4.1bn, while pan-European funds drew in USD2.8bn. However, US funds finished the month with outflows of USD0.2bn, and funds dedicated to emerging markets had net outflows totalling USD4.5bn.

Asset inflows and strong developed-market equity returns helped long-term fund assets reach nearly USD23 trillion, up more than USD3 trillion from 2012, according to an an annual report released by Morningstar on 6 March.Although 2013 inflows of USD976 billion are only slightly higher than the previous record set in 2009, their composition is vastly different. Investors have rotated out of fixed-income investments, which garnered the majority of inflows over the last five years, and into equities.Equity funds enjoyed inflows of USD567 billion globally and an organic growth rate of 6%, the fastest since Morningstar began tracking worldwide flow data in 2007. Allocation funds had a strong year with inflows of USD220 billion, driven by double-digit growth in Europe and among cross-border funds.Among equity funds, passive funds continued to gain share in most regions in 2013. This shift has been driven largely by the increasing awareness among investors of the role of cost in investment outcomes. Another growth factor is the adoption of ETFs among advisors in the United States, although ETFs in Europe are having a tougher time making such inroads.Vanguard dominated worldwide flows again in 2013, as it did in 2012. The firm took in USD143 billion and now manages USD2.3 trillion in long-term mutual fund and exchange-traded fund (ETF) assets. On the other side of the spectrum, PIMCO, the beneficiary of the long bond bull market, saw outflows of USD29 billion for the year as investors’ fear of rising interest rates prompted a long-anticipated exodus from bond funds. 88% of PIMCO’s mutual fund and ETF assets globally resided in fixed-income products at year end.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } After a year in which deontology and cost reduction were at the top of the priority lists, US banks are seeking new areas for growth. According to a study by Fidelity Institutional entitled “Fidelity Bank Wealth Management Study,” banks want to develop their wealth management activities. More than half of heads surveyed as part of the study hope to increase income in wealth management by 25% in the next five years. More than 40% of banking managers say that wealth management has already become a driver of growth in recent years. One third of banks say that their divisions dedicated to wealth management have contributed an average of 28% to revenues at their firms. In the past to years, the contribution of wealth management came to 40%.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } With net earnings of EUR65.2m, up 6% compared with 2012, the Investment Management profession at BNP Paribas Real Estate brought in EUR800m in new cash in 2013, according to a statement released on 6 March. At the end of the year, it had nearly EUR18bn in assets in Europe, of which 74% were on behalf of institutional investors. Overall, this profession has over 100,000 clients. The acquisition of iii-investments in Germany took it from 17th to 9th place in Europe in 2013.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Convertible assets at the US asset management firm Wellesley Investment Advisors, a specialist in the sector, have topped USD2bn. The firm, whose clients include high net worth private clients, institutionals and pension funds, has seen growing interest in convertibles on the part of investors, in an environment of low interest rates, stock markets reaching new peaks, and rising volatility.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Lloyd George Management (LGM), an affiliate of BMO Global Asset Management, has appointed Thomas Vester as chief investment officer, Asia Asset Management reports. His mission will be to strengthen and co-ordinate investment processes and selection criteria for securities for BMO Global Asset Management across the LGM strategies in Asia and emerging markets.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Falcon Investment Advisors, a family office based in Dubai, will be adding to its Singapore teams in order to offer its services to several families. The first step in its development was taken with the recruitment of Mark Prendiville, former director of institutional clients at Julius Baer Singapore. He is specialised in the generation of alpha, Asian Investor states.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The recovery at Aviva Investors “is likely to take some time,” the parent company of the British asset management firm has announced at a presentation of its annual results. In 2013, activities saw net redemptions of GBP5bn, and assets totalled GBP241bn. In its annual results, Aviva announced that it has discovered evidence of «improper» allocation of trades in fixed income securities by two former employees before 2013. There is a total adverse impact on operating profit from this activity of GBP132m. “Measures to improve controls have been put in place,” Aviva says.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } In 2013, Schroders posted net inflows of GBP7.9bn, down slightly compared with 2012, when inflows totalled GBP9.4bn. However, the British asset management firm has posted record revenues, profits and assets. Its net revenues totalled GBP1.4bn, up 24%, and its pre-tax profits and one-time elements total GBP507.8m, up 41%. Its assets came out to EUR262.9bn, compared with EUR212bn as of the end of 2012. In asset management alone, Schroders posted net inflows of GBP9.4bn, compared with GBP9.7bn in 2012, of which GBP4.6bn are from institutional investors.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } SCOR Global Life, an affiliate of Scor SE, Swiss Re and Munich Re on 6 March announced that they have concluded a life expectancy policy with the British insurer Aviva. The extended life expectancy risks for these affiliates is transferred to the Aviva retirement regime under the reinsurance contract. The associated liabilities represent GBP5bn, making it the largest longevity swap ever concluded to date on the international market by a retirement regime. The transactions will take effect from 1 January 2014. For Scor, this is the fourth longevity swap signed in the United Kingdom, confirming the solidity of the commercial fund and the large expertise of the group in this growing market. The success in the United Kingdom in extending innoative longevity risk reinsurance solutions by SCOR in the Netherlands in December 2013 follows the path already blazed by SCOR Global Life in the implementation of the OptimalDynamics strategic plan. SCOR plans to double its longevity business volume within four months while maintaining a level of profitability in line with the objectives defined in OptimalDynamics, with a ROE 1000 basis points above the risk-free rate. For its part, Swiss Re has been present in the longevity market since 2007, with several operations in partnership with insurers and pension funds in the private and public sectors. The most recent are longevity contracts signed in 2012 with LV=Employee Pension Scheme for a total of USD1.3bn, and with Akzo Nobel (CPS) Pension Scheme for USD2.2bn. According to Paolo Martin, CEO of SCOR Global Life, “this important longevity transaction is fully in line with the appetite for risk of SCOR and the strategy employed by the Gruop in terms of longevity, and respects the profitability criteria of the Group. It comes only a few months after the signature of the transaction concluded with Aegon in the Netherlands, demonstrating the solid competence of SCOR Global Life in the global longevity market. SCOR is an important actor in this market; we plan to establish new partnerships in order to offer longevity solutions in the months and years to come.”

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Invesco Perpetual on 6 March confirmed that effective immediately, it has appointed Mark Barnett as head of management for the Invesco Perpetual High Income and Invesco Perpetual Income funds, replacing Neil Woodford. Woodford, who will remain in the position until 29 April, is expected to leave the firm to join Oakley Capital, where he will form a new investment boutique. The change will occur in continuity as Barnett has been working in close collaboration since 15 October 2013 with Woodford, current manager of the funds concerned, to ensure a smooth transition. Barnett, who joined Invesco Perpetual in 1996, began his career in management at Mercury Asset Management in 1992.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The major international banks are approaching their objectives under requirements for tier 1 equity under Basel III, the most recent report by the Basel Committee, released on 6 March, says. In six months, the sums that the major internationally active banks still need to raise to meet their owners’ equity objective of 7% has been reduced by half, according to the report. As of 30 June 2013, the major international banks still needed to raise EUR57.5bn, compared with EUR115bn six months earlier. This total includes surcharges applicable to banks considered to big to fail, which are required to have an additional owners’ equity cushion of 2.5%. To put these sums in perspective, the Basel Committee emphasizes that the sum of profits after taxes, but before distribution of dividends to shareholders, was EUR456bn for the banks studied overall. These figures are based on data collected from a sample of 102 major internationally active banks, the Basel Committee says, on the basis of its regular monitoring of this area.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The US investment fund KKR has created a division specialised in energy, whose mission will be to invest in the market in the midst of a boom in schist oil and gas in North America. The fund has USD2bn, which KKR raised from pension funds, sovereign funds, insurance companies, banks, and individual investors, a statement says. The new fund, entitled EIGF, has already invested USD350m in eight projects, KKR explains. At the end of December 2013, KKR had USD94.3bn in assets under management, of which USD8.7bn were dedicated to energy and infrastructure.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Amundi Patrimoine is on the right path. The fund dedicated to wealth management clients, which has been on sale since May 2013 in French banking partner networks of Amundi, now has between EUR1.1bn and EUR1.2bn in assets, the asset management firm announced on 6 March at a press conference. At its launch, assets in Amundi Patrimoine, officially created in February 2012, totalled a modest EUR112m. This strong growth in assets under management is due partly to inflows of EUR200m over 2013 as a whole. However, most assets are due to the contribution of some flagship vehicles from banking networks which have been merged into Amundi Patrimoine.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Prudential Investors has launched the Prudential Jennison Rising Dividend Fund, which will invest as a priority in large caps listed in the United States, with the preference given to securities from businesses which distribute growng dividends. The fund is advised by the infrastructure return team at Jennison Associates, which uses a fundamental approach to select securities. The managers of the strategy are Shaun Hong and Bobby Edemeka, who manage funds of utilities, high yield equities, global infrastructure, and MLPs.