Le Fonds européen 2020 pour l’énergie, le changement climatique et les infrastructures (le fonds Marguerite) a annoncé le 23 janvier l’acquisition d’une tranche de 36 mégawatts sur les 115 mégawatts du projet Toul-Rosières de centrale solaire photovoltaïque mis en oeuvre par EDF Energies Nouvelles. Le Fonds Marguerite, créé avec le soutien de six des principales institutions financières publiques européennes (Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations, la Commission Européenne, la Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, Banque Européenne d’Investissement, Instituto de Crédito Oficial, KfW, PKO Bank Polski), a obtenu le financement de la construction de sa tranche de 36 mégawatts dans le cadre d’une facilité de prêt accordée par BNP Paribas et Crédit Agricole CIB. Cette opération constitue le deuxième investissement du Fonds Marguerite, mis en place en 2010 pour investir dans des projets d’installations nouvelles, dits « greenfield », et des projets d’extension dans les secteurs de l'énergie, des énergies renouvelables et des transports dans les 27 pays de l’UE. La première levée de fonds, qui s’est élevée à 710 millions d’euros, s’est achevée le 3 mars 2010. La mobilisation de fonds aux côtés d’autres investisseurs institutionnels, privés et publics, se poursuit avec un objectif de 1,5 milliard d’euros de fonds et une dernière levée prévue en 2012.

La Caisse des dépôts a annoncé le 23 janvier que les encours du livret A et du Livret de développement durable (LDD) avaient atteint un nouveau record en décembre à 286,8 milliards d’euros contre 263,8 milliards d’euros fin 2010. La collecte sur ces deux produits sur l’ensemble de l’année s'élève à 17,49 milliards d’euros à laquelle il faut ajouter une capitalisation annuelle des intérêts pour un montant de 5,54 milliards.

En termes de développement, Carmignac Gestion, qui affiche 45 milliards d’euros d’encours, a poussé les feux hors de l’Hexagone lors du dernier trimestre 2011. Après avoir ouvert un bureau à Francfort, la société de gestion en a fait autant à Londres début novembre. Elle y a également recruté son responsable qui a d’ores et déjà embauché deux autres personnes en attendant l’arrivée probable d’un troisième professionnel au cours de cette année. Dans tous les cas, la société de gestion tient son rang d'établissement largement tourné vers l’international comme l’attestait, lundi 23 janvier, la présence de la presse étrangère à Paris venue écouter Edouard Carmignac sur le développement européen de sa maison, et sur sa vision des grands enjeux économiques en 2012."Outre la France, l’Allemagne et l’Italie constituent des marchés importants pour nous», explique Didier Saint-Georges, membre du comité d’investissement. Et logiquement, le Royaume-Uni devrait également faire partie des marchés–clés de la société de gestion dont les encours proviennent désormais majoritairement de l'étranger. De fait, pour ne pas rater son arrivée sur le marché britannique, Carmignac Gestion a pris soin de proposer sur l’ensemble des fonds de sa gamme une part libellée en livres sterling. «La perception des prospects que rencontre actuellement l'équipe de Londres est très positive», se félicite Didier Saint-Georges, qui explique ce phénomène par le style de gestion indépendant de Carmignac Gestion, très apprécié outre-Manche.En attendant, Carmignac Gestion n’a pu éviter le mouvement de décollecte généralisée qui a touché la gestion d’actifs, notamment en Europe l’an dernier. «En 2011", admet Didier Saint-Georges, «nous avons enregistré une décollecte de 6 milliards d’euros». Aucun fonds n’a été épargné, même si les sorties nettes les plus importantes ont concerné le fonds vedette de la gamme : Carmignac Patrimoine. Ce dernier a perdu 2,5 milliards d’euros. «C’est 10 % de son encours», reconnaît Didier Saint-Georges, qui tient cependant à relativiser : «ces 10 % représentent moins de 15 % de ce qui a été collecté en 2009 et 2010 sur le fonds». Dans le détail, cependant, les rachats ont concerné les pays où la collecte était récente. Notamment l’Italie. «Mais les sorties ont été nombreuses lors du premier trimestre, ce qui a largement pénalisé les épargnants en question», explique le responsable. La seconde partie de l’année a en effet été très favorable à l’OPCVM, lequel a limité sa perte à 0,8 % sur l’année - et il progresse de 2,5 % sur 12 mois.Du côté de la gamme, la société de gestion n’a pas prévu le lancement de nouveaux fonds en 2012. Carmignac Emerging Patrimoine, le dernier né, pèse déjà 230 millions après neuf mois d’existence. A ce titre, le nouveau produit n’a pas profité d’arbitrages d’un autre fonds «Patrimoine» de la maison (Carmignac Patrimoine et Carmignac Euro Patrimoine). «La collecte correspond à de la «new money», hormis quelques transferts de porteurs du fonds Carmignac Emergents vers le nouveau fonds moins volatil par nature», remarque Didier Saint-Georges. Cela dit, concernant l’offre de fonds, la maison veillera à ce qu’elle soit «la plus lisible possible», n’excluant pas, de fait, quelques fusions-absorptions dans le courant de l’année. Dans un autre genre, les axes de développement en matière de clientèle ont peu changé. Les investisseurs institutionnels ne représentent que 10 % des encours de la société, ce qui laisse une grande marge de progression en 2012. Mais la maison ne veut pas modifier l’offre de sa gestion. «Nous ne proposons pas de mandats dédiés», insiste Didier Saint-Georges, «mais nous sommes ravis si les investisseurs institutionnels souscrivent nos fonds.» Et de mettre en avant la stabilité de la clientèle «retail» qui y a investi, à même de rassurer les grands comptes. «Carmignac Gestion représente en tout un million de porteurs en Europe», ajoute le responsable.Enfin, concernant les équipes de gestion, une chose est sûre : la maison n’entend pas éclater les équipes dans les différentes parties du globe qu’elle couvre. «Nous n’envisageons pas d’avoir des gérants à Honk-Kong ou au Brésil», précise Didier Saint Georges, «car il est très important pour nous que les gérants se voient et se parlent même si la contrepartie d’une gestion regroupée à Paris se paie par de fréquents voyages"…

La compagnie d’assurance de l’ordre catholique des Chevaliers de Colomb, la Knights of Columbus Inc., a pris une participation de 19,9 % dans Boston Advisors, a indiqué ce dernier dans un communiqué. La société de gestion sera dorénavant chargée de la gestion des fonds All Cap Equity et GTAA de la Knights of Columbus, ainsi que du pilotage de son fonds ISR.

En 2011, A Plus Finance a enregistré une collecte de 80 millions d’euros, soit une hausse de 40 % sur un an. La société de gestion indépendante spécialisée dans le capital investissement a levé près de 35 millions au titre de l’ISF et collecté plus de 45 millions au titre du dispositif de réduction sur l’IR. A Plus Finance totalise à fin 2011 des encours sous gestion de 400 millions d’euros, dont 90 millions gérés dans le cadre de stratégies obligataires, précise un communiqué.

Aberdeen Asset Management indique le 23 janvier que son directeur général de Paris, Philippe Troesch, quitte l’entreprise. Il rejoint le groupe Meeschaert qui a, pour sa part, confirmé il y a quelques jours départ de Marc Favard, président du directoire de Meeschaert AM. Aberdeen Asset Management a annoncé que Sandra Craignou et Frédéric Lejeune deviennent co-responsables de ses activités françaises. Ces deux dirigeants conserveront chacun leurs activités respectives de responsable des investissements et de responsable du développement.Le gestionnaire écossais gère et commercialise 5 milliards d’euros pour le compte de clients français.

Les portefeuilles gérés d’ETF, dont plus de 50% des actifs sont investis dans des ETF, constituent l’un des segments de marché les plus dynamiques dans l’univers des comptes gérés, selon un rapport publié le 23 janvier par Morningstar (""ETF Managed Portfolios Landscape Report», janvier 2012).Morningstar, qui a annoncé en septembre dernier son intention de mieux couvrir ces portefeuilles, indique qu’elle suit désormais près de 370 stratégies émanant de 95 sociétés représentant un encours d’actifs conseillés de 27 milliards de dollars en septembre 2011. Morningstar estime que les actifs sous gestion des portefeuilles gérés d’ETF se situent entre 40 milliards et 100 milliards de dollars si l’on tient compte des portefeuilles discrétionnaires et non discrétionnaires. Au cours des douze derniers mois, les actifs des portefeuilles gérés d’ETF ont progressé de 43% environ. Quelque 30% de ces stratégies ont été lancées il y a moins de trois ans. Près des trois quarts des stratégies mises en œuvre dans les portefeuilles gérés sont des stratégies globales, qui permettent à l’investisseur d'être exposé sur tous les marchés internationaux.

Société Générale Securities Services (SGSS) on 23 January announced the appointment of Jeanne Duvoux as CEO and deputy director of SGSS for Italy (SGSS S.p.A.). Duvoux will report to Bruno Prigent, director of the securities profession at Société Générale. Her appointment is effective immediately, and was approved by the board of directors on 19 January 2012. Duvoux succeeds Massimo Cotella, who has joined the executive board at SGSS in charge of overseeing sales and marketing activities as well as Liquidity Management services at SGSS. In her new role, Duvoux will continue to actively develop the activities of SGSS, which is now a leader in the securities industry in Italy. In the 2011 study “Agent Banks in Major Markets” in Global Custodian magazine, SGSS S.p.S was ranked as “Top Rated” in the categories “Cross border/non affiliated” and “Domestic,” as well as “Leading Top Rated” in the “Client” category. Since October 2010, Duvoux had been director of the Corproate and Business departments at SGSS S.p.A., as Deputy CEO and Legal Representative of SGSS in Italy.

Olle Olsson, director of the Paris office, announced on 23 January that the Swedish asset management firm East Capital (EUR3.4bn) has signed a cooperation agreement with the German firm DAB Bank. The direct bank will offer the UCITS-compliant funds East Capital (Lux) Russian Fund and East Capital (Lux) Eastern European Fund, both products which offer daily liquidity, effective immediately.

The European Securities Markets Authority (ESMA) will present its detailed proposals for new ETF regulations on 30 January, the news agency Reuters reports. After a two- to three month consultation period, ESMA will publish the final version of the rules, which may then optionally be adopted by the various regulatory authorities of member states. The agency states that the new rules will not be legally binding.

Banks may be forbidden from providing both synthetic ETFs and counterparties of these ETFs, if the recommendations of the Securities and Markets Stakeholder Group are adopted, Deborah Fuhr, independent strategist, tells Financial Times Fund Management. “Many banks and brokers are likely to find being a provider of ETFs without also being able to be a swap counterparty to their ETFs will reduce the profitability of their businesses ...” She claims that would compel banks to sell or pull out of their ETF operations.

According to a study by Yale and Maastricht Universities for the Financial Times, private equity makes more money for fund managers than for US pension funds. From 2001 to 2010, US pension funds earned returns of 4.5% per year on their investments in private equity, but in that period they paid 4% in management commissions. In addition, private equity funds charge many other fees, and charge a 20% commission on performance.According to Martijn Cremers (Yale), taking “normal” performance commissions of 20% as a basis, about 70% of gross performance has been paid in the form of fees in the past ten years.

In terms of development, Carmignac Gestion, which has EUR45bn in assets, looked beyond the borders of France in fourth quarter 2011. After opening an office in Frankfurt, the asset management firm did the same in London in early November. It has also recruited a head, who has already hired two more people, pending the arrival of a third professional this year. The asset management firm has retained its place as an asset management largely oriented to international markets, as on 23 January it invited the international press to Paris to hear Edouard Carmignac discourse on the European growth of his asset management firm, and his vision for the major economic challenges ahead in 2012.“Aside from France, Germany and Italy are the largest markets for us,” explains Didier Saint-Georges, a member of the investment committee. Logically, the United Kingdom is also expected to be a key market for the asset management firm, a majority of whose assets now come from abroad. In order not to flop in its debut on the British market, Carmignac Gestion has been careful to offer all of the funds of its range denominated in pounds Sterling. “The perception of prospective investors who meet our team in London is now very positive,” says Saint-Georges, who adds that the independent management style of Carmignac Gestion is highly regarded in the UK.In terms of management teams, one thing is sure: the firm is not planning to spread out its teams to the far corners of the globe it covers. “We are not planning to have managers in Hong Kong or Brazil,” says Saint-Georges, “since it’s very important for us that managers see each other and talk to each other, even if the downside to having management centred in Paris is travelling often.”

Aberdeen Asset Management on 23 January announced that it has appointed Sandra Craignou and Frédéric Lejeune as co-heads of its French activities, replacing Philippe Troesch, who, according to information obtained by Newsmanagers, will be joining Meeschaert Gestion Privée, while Meeschaert Asset Management has just announced that its CEO Marc Favard was leaving the group. Craignou and Lejeune will retain their respective responsibilities as chief investment officer and head of development. Aberdeen manages EUR5bn for French clients.

JO Hambro Capital Management has announced that it has reopened the UK Equity Income fund to investors, after a soft closing nearly one year ago, FundWeb reports.The asset management firm has lowered front-end fees by 5% for new investors, and has raised the capacity fo the fund to GBP1bn. Assets in the fund currently total GBP918.8m.

The British asset management group MAM Funds on 23 January announced that its assets under management totalled GBP1.7bn as of the end of December, a total which remains virtually unchanged compared with the end of 2010. Net redemptions from the Midas fund have been largely offset by inflows to the Miton range, MAM Funds reports, adding that the recently-launched Acium UK Multi Cap Income Fund as of the end of December had assets of over GBP10m.

Sarasin bank has filed a complaint with the Swiss Press Council against the weekly newsmagazine “Weltwoche,” which broke the Hildebrand scandal earlier this year. The complaint concerns an erroneous article related to a violation of banking secrecy by a former employee of the bank’s IT department.Sarasin bank claims in a statement released on 23 January that the magazine has “severely violated its journalistic duties on several levels.” It has also damaged the reputation of the Basel-based private bank, and those of the client advisor who Weltwoche inaccurately cited as a source.Sarasin bank adds that Weltwoche did not adequately evaluate its sole source for the information. In addition, ahead of its 5 January issue, the magazine ignored information and contact from the Basel-based bank which would have allowed the German-language magazine to correct the erroneous article in time.

Managed ETF portfolios, more than 50% of whose assets are invested in ETFs, are one of the most dynamic segments in the managed accounts universe, according to a report published on 23 January by Morningstar (“ETF Managed Portfolio Lanscape Report,” January 2012).Morningstar, which in September announced plans to scale up its coverage of these portfolios, says that it is now monitoring nearly 370 strategies from 95 firms representing advised assets of USD27bn as of September 2011. Morningstar estimates that assets under management in managed ETF portfolios total USD40bn to USD100bn, taking into account discretionary and non-discretionary portfolios.In the past twelve months, assets in ETF managed portfolios have increased by about 43%. About 30% of these strategies have been launched in the past three years. Nearly three quarters of strategies applied in managed portfolios are global strategies, which allow the investor exposure to international markets.

The Californian pension fund CalPERS on 23 January announced that it has earned returns of 1.1% for the 2011 calendar year. This return is “modest but positive,” CalPERS admits; it blames the poor performance on the volatility of equity markets, largely related to the euro zone debt crisis. The equity portfolio finished the year with losses of 7.9%, with -0.3% for US equities, but -13.9% for international equities. All other asset classes show gains, including bonds, with returns of 12.4%, and private equity, with similar returns of 12.4%. Investments in real estate have earned returns of nearly 10%. CalPERS has also announced that it has unanimously re-elected Rob Feckner as chairman of the board of trustees for the pension fund.

On 1 March, Sal. Oppenheim, Hauck & Aufhäuser (Switzerland) and the Munich-based Meyer & Cie will be launching the diversified fund Nachhaltig Aktiv OP, for which subscriptions will remain open from 23 January to 29 February. For the ethical/sustainable development fund, the three partners will share responsibilities for exclusion (weapons, violations of human rights, experimentation on animals) and positive crieria, which, according to the providers, will provide a more satisfactory end result than a best-in-class approach.The investable universe of 500 businesses and countries is selected by the ethical committee at Hauck & Aufhäuser (H&A), while the portfolio will undergo analysis every six months by specialists at the Munich-based ethical ratings agency oekom research.Asset allocation and weighting are then regularly updated by Meyer & Cie. The equities allocation is limited to 30%, and bonds may represent up to 100% of the portfolio.The final selection of securities is shared between Sal. Oppenheim for the bond portion (bond management and duration management), and H&A for the equities portion.In bonds, most of the portfolio will be composed of corporate bonds, Pfandbriefe and government bonds denominated in euros, with at least one investment-grade rating. For equities, most investments will be made in shares in European companies.The objective is to generate returns of 3% to 5% per year over a three-year period.CharacteristicsName: Nachhaltig Aktiv OPISIN codes:I-class shares: LU0650607525R-class shares: LU0650605669Front-end fee:I-class shares: maximum 3%R-class shares: maximum 3%Depository banking commission: 0.10%Management commission:I-class shares: 0.85%R-class shares: 1.40%Performance commission: 10% of performance exceeding the benchmark (80% BofA ML EMU Broad Market 1-10Y and 20% MSCI Europe EUR)

The hedge fund management firm Diamondback Capital Management will pay USD9m in fines to settle a civil case for insider trading. It has also reached an agreement with the Department of Justice to prevent any future lawsuits related to potential criminal investigations, the Wall Street Journal reports.Since being searched in November 2010, the asset management firm has seen its assets decline by half, to USD2.5bn.

Despite the highly perilous fiscal year that hedge funds have just been through, with average annual returns of -5%, institutional investors appear not to have held it against them. Nearly 38% of those investors are planning to increase their allocations to single hedge funds in the next twelve months, though this compares with 54% last year, according to the fifth annual study by SEI in collaboration with Greenwich Associates.15% of investors are planning to reduce their allocations, compared with 11% the previous year. But in October 2011, allocations to hedge funds by institutionals participating in the study (slightly over 100) represented 16.7% of their portfolios, compared with 12% in 2008. In addition, 60% of them say they are satisfied with the returns earned in the first six months of 2011 (an average of 6.2%, compared with 9.2% in 2010).The top challenge for the current year is returns, for 36% of participants. Transparency, the major challenge in the years 2009 and 2010, is now far outpaced by other concerns. Nearly one third of respondents, compared with 21% the previous year, say the number one objective with alternative investment is absolute returns, while in 2011, the priority was uncorrelated investment strategies.Three of the four objectives cited by institutional investors are related to investment risk: uncorrelated strategies, diversification, and reduction of volatility. This means that institutional investors appear to want to use hedge funds not only to find returns, but also to reduce portfolio risks.The study finds that direct investment in hedge funds is continuing to gain ground. 40% of institutionals say that they invest only in single-manager funds, compared with 24% one month earlier, and twice as many as in 2008. Direct investment is clearly more widespread among major investors, as 56% of clients with over USD56bn in assets say that they invest only in single-manager funds.Long/short equity strategies are currently the preferred strategies for nearly 82% of institutionals, largely outstripping event-driven (53%) and credit strategies (42%).

Since the beginning of this year, the German asset management firm ETFlab (Deka) and the French firm Lyxor Asset Management (Société Générale) have been named as “Star Partners” of the direct bank DAB Bank. This means that clients of DAB Bank may purchase ETF funds from the two issuers online for a commission of only EUR4.95. The offering includes 109 ETF funds from Lyxor, and 40 from ETFlab, for orders of at least EUR1,000.The agreement concerns products that replicate the major equity and bond indices, and for the first time from DAB, strategy funds, either short or leveraged.DAB Bank states that iShares left the “Star Partners” program at the end of 2011. As a result, fees for ETF orders from that promoter will be charged at normal DAB Bank rates.

The German-Swiss bond management firm Bantleon had assets as of the end of December up 30% (excluding market effects), to EUR5.28bn, due to net subscriptions of EUR1.2bn, compared with EUR4.1bn, and EUR846m as of the end of 2010, and EUR3.2bn/EUR1.2bn as of the end of 2009. Net subscriptions from retail investors totalled EUR62m.Assets under management as of the end of 2011 totalled EUR2.34bn for open-ended funds, and EUR2.94bn for institutional funds.The strongest net subscriptions, at EUR827m, went to absolute return strategies of the Bantleon Opportunities range. The two open-ended funds Bantleon Opportunities S and Bantleon Opportunities L attracted EUR288m in total, and have assets of EUR658m as of the end of December, in addition to which EUR540m in net inflows came into institutional funds.Since the beginning of this year, the Bantleon Opportunities S fund has posted further net subscriptions, putting assets over EUR500m.

The Luxembourg-based independent management firm LRI Invest, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Augur Financial Holding VSA, has announced that it has obtained permission from BaFin to open an office in Germany. It will be located in Frankfurt, where it plans to assist fund providers seeking to launch Luxembourg-registered or German-registered funds with LRI Invest. All fund administration will continue to be undertaken in Luxembourg.The two directors of the new branch office will be Dirk van Dreumel (former director of institutional business at WGF, until the end of 2011), and Ingo Steffenhag, who previously worked at LBBW Asset Management and G&P Institutional Management.LRI Invest is a specialist in white-label products, which manages about EUR8bn in about 200 funds. The objective for the Frankfurt office is to benefit from the new UCITS IV directive.

The German firm max.xs financial services AG (max.xs), a specialist in B2B distribution of financial services and asset management products in the German-speaking countries, on 23 January announced that it has signed a cooperation agreement with the British data provider FE. FE will set up pages with complete data (fund analysis, financial data) from max.xs partners, on a website aimed at German and Austrian investors and intermediaries. max.xs is the distributor for First Private Investment Management KAG, Gamax Management AG, Kleinwort Benson Investors, Rothschild & Cie Gestion and Veritas Investment Trust for securities funds, and Wölbern Invest KG for real estate funds.

Between January 2002 and October 2011, assets in alternative UCITS funds increased from EUR5.40bn to nearly EUR150bn, PerTrac reports in a 30-page study published on 23 January.The analysis shows that more than 80% of the 1,210 funds in the universe are domiciled in three countries: Luxembourg (49.92%), Ireland (18.84%), and France (11.90%).In terms of type, the most popular strategy is long/short equity, with more than one quarter of the total, followed by global macro, CTA/managed futures and multi-strategy, with 11% each. Bonds represent 11% of the total.

Le Temps reports that the Swiss private bank Wegelin has let go one of its partners, Christian Hafner. The suspension is related to a clash with the United States over taxation, in which three Wegelin employees have been charged. In early January, three bankers from Wegelin were indicted in New York for helping US taxpayers to evade taxes.

EFG Asset Management, the asset management unit of the EFG International group, is going to sell four sub-funds of its Irish-registered Sicav New Capital in France. To that end, it has recruited Isabelle Hargreaves, formerly of Janus Capital and Investec Asset Management, as head of French-speaking markets, in London. The Swiss group, based in Zurich, is already present in France via the former team of Sycomore Gestion Privée, acquired in 2008, now known as EFG Gestion Privée. But this structure is part of the private banking arm of EFG International, while EFG Asset Management is the asset management entity of the group. “We have a common shareholder, but we are not part of the same unit, and we have distinct product ranges. However, partnerships are not to be ruled out,” says Hargreaves. The product range now includes four sub-funds, which have recently been licensed for sale in France. The two oldest products are bond funds: the New Capital Total Return Bond Fund (USD127m) and the New Capital Wealthy Nations Bond Fund (USD615m), both of which are managed in partnership with Stratton Street Capital, a US asset management firm. The other two products are invested in equities. The New Capital US Growth Fund (USD79m) invests in US equities, and its management is outsourced to Mazama Capital Management. Lastly, the New Capital Asia Pacific Equity Income Fund (USD34m) is managed internally by a former fund manager from the Asian boutique Atlantis, who invests in growth companies that pay dividends. The target client base is funds of funds, private banks and family offices. Hargreaves will also serve Luxembourg, Belgium, Monaco and French-speaking Switzerland. This entry into France is part of a development strategy abroad at EFG Capital for asset management. In addition to Hargreaves, the firm has recruited several sales staff, including two for the UK, one for German-speaking Switzerland, and one for Singapore. The team will report directly to Moz Afzal, based in London, CIO of EFG Asset Management and CEO of the UK structure. The goal is to follow the example of other Swiss private banks, such as Pictet and Lombard Odier, which have spread their reach across Europe, with the goal of increasing assets, which now total USD7bn for the asset management arm, of which USD1bn are for the Irish long-only Sicav range.

In 2011, the percentage of the financial savings of Germans allocated to equities, bonds, shares in investment funds and stakes in private companies fell by one point compared with the previous year, to 23.5%. The number of shareholders in investment funds has also fallen, according to a study by Allianz Global Investors (AGI).James Dilworth, CEO of AGI Europe, says that asset management firms should capitalise on savings investors’ need for security, and should offer products will asymmetrical risk profiles, which would provide a way to participate in rising markets and effectively protect their investments in times of falling markets. AGI has observed a growing demand on the part of clients for investment supports associated with smart risk management systems, the manager says.Overall, the gross financial savings of German households increased last year by about 1% (after an increase of 4.9% in 2010, and 3.8% in 2009), to EUR4.74trn, or EUR57,900 per person, compared with EUR4.69trn and EUR57,300 in 2010. Overall, net financial savings totalled EUR3.18trn, compared with EUR3.15trn.