La RBA assure que les taux d'intérêt pourraient rester quelque temps à leur niveau actuel et ne s'inquiète plus de la force du dollar australien

Face à un marché national atone, les sociétés de gestion trouvent leur croissance en dehors des frontières

Face à un marché national atone, les sociétés de gestion trouvent leur croissance en dehors des frontières

D’ici à 2016, les délits d’initiés seront passibles de quatre ans de prison et la responsabilité des abus étendue à l’employeur des fraudeurs

La Bundesbank semble l'envisager comme un compromis pour ne pas devoir accepter des taux négatifs voire un programme de rachats d'actifs (QE)

La banque suisse brandit des garde-fous pour expliquer la hausse de ses primes, dont le montant total versé cette année atteindra 3,2 milliards de francs. Mais elle n’a pas précisé la façon dont elle va respecter la directive CRD 4 qui limite les rémunérations variables.

Les députés français ont adopté hier à l’unanimité une proposition de loi socialiste harmonisant les taux de TVA applicables à la presse imprimée et à la presse en ligne pour alléger le fardeau fiscal de cette dernière. Cette proposition de loi ramène, à compter du 1er février 2014, de 20% à 2,1% le taux de TVA pour les services de la presse en ligne. Le coût de cette mesure est estimé à 5 millions d’euros.

Dans le cadre des engagements pris pour réformer la réglementation des produits dérivés de gré à gré (OTC), les pays du G20 se sont mis d’accord sur le fait que tous les contrats de dérivés OTC devaient être portés à la connaissance des référentiels centraux, a annoncé hier soir le Conseil de stabilité financière (FSB), en ajoutant que des progrès avaient été également réalisés dans la construction des infrastructures de marché nécessaires à la mise en œuvre de ces réformes.

Fin 2013, l’Agirc-Arrco avait lancé une deuxième opération de gestion de transition concernant la restructuration du portefeuille actions zone euro vers plusieurs fonds ISR zone euro. « On abonde pour le moment les fonds ISR de 150 millions d’euros », déclare Philippe Goubeault. A noter que l’encours global des fonds ISR des fédérations « frôle les 400 millions d’euros ». Philippe Goubeault révèle au micro d’Instit Invest que l’Agirc-Arrco s’est engagée à mener « une réflexion sur les conditions dans lesquelles ils développeraient la gestion ISR, au niveau des fédérations comme au niveau de l’ensemble Agirc-Arrco », ajoute-t-il. Le groupe paritaire de réflexion sera constitué de représentants des organisations syndicales et patronales et se rassemblera en début d’année. L’occasion également pour eux de réfléchir sur « le financement de l'économie française, souligne Philippe Goubeault. Cela fait un moment que nous y pensons, mais aucune décision n’est véritablement prise pour le moment. On peut alors considérer que cette réflexion sur le soutien de l'économie française fait partie de celle sur l’ISR au sens large. »

Le fonds souverain du Koweït va investir 500 millions d’euros dans des entreprises italiennes en coordination avec le Fonds stratégique d’investissement de l’Italie, a annoncé le président du Conseil Enrico Letta. L’accord sera formellement conclu en mars. Il prévoit la création d’une société d’investissement dotée de 2,5 milliards d’euros, dont 80% proviennent du FSI italien et le solde de Kuwait Investment Autority. Le fonds du Qatar et le Fonds russe d’investissement direct ont déjà conclu des accords similaires pour investir dans des entreprises de la Péninsule.

La Société Générale a décidé d’étendre son offre de banque privée à l’ensemble de sa clientèle de particuliers disposant d’avoirs financiers supérieurs à 500.000 euros, a annoncé la banque. Le seuil était jusqu'à présent fixé à un million d’euros.SG Private Banking en France proposera ainsi ses services à près de 40.000 foyers, représentant un total d’environ 50 milliards d’euros d’actifs gérés.

La Grèce cherchera à obtenir l’effacement d’un tiers de sa dette si le parti de gauche Syriza remporte des élections législatives, a déclaré mardi son chef de file, Alexis Tsipras devant l’association Europresse, lors d’une visite à Paris. Syriza devance la Nouvelle démocratie (ND, droite) du Premier ministre Antonis Samaras dans les intentions de vote.

Le déficit budgétaire américain devrait se réduire à 514 milliards de dollars en 2014, contre 680 milliards en 2013, selon les projections publiées mardi du Congressional Budget Office, l’organisme bi-partisan chargé d'évaluer la trajectoire budgétaire du pays. Il s’agit du plus bas niveau de déficit depuis 2007. Le CBO estime en revanche que les déficits devraient à nouveau repartir à la hausse après 2015.

L’ agence Standard & Poor’s, dans une étude publiée mardi, estime que le montant potentiel des émissions obligataires conformes au droit islamique dans le monde en 2014 devrait dépasser 100 milliards de dollars. Elle table sur une croissance cette année, après un recul de 13% des volumes d'émissions en 2013. A quelque 115 milliards de dollars, ceux-ci constituent tout de même le deuxième plus gros montant de sukuks placées, après le record de 2012.

Au sein du groupe Caisse des Dépôts, André Laurent Michelson a été nommé directeur de l’exécution des opérations financières, en remplacement d’Yvon Le Moullec.Jean-Marc Morin, directeur juridique et fiscal, est chargé de l’intérim du secrétaire général du Groupe. André Laurent Michelson et Jean-Marc Morin sont membres des comités de direction de l’Etablissement public et du groupe Caisse des Dépôts.En 1995, le nouveau promu était directeur adjoint du cabinet du ministre de l'économie et des finances (Alain Madelin), puis directeur adjoint du cabinet du ministre de l'économie, des finances et du plan (Jean Arthuis, 1995-1997). En 1997, il réintègre la direction du Trésor. En 1998, il devient directeur, chef du service juridique et de l’agence judiciaire du Trésor. En novembre 1998, il est nommé directeur des affaires juridiques du ministère de l'économie, des finances et de l’industrie. En fonction depuis 2003 à la Caisse des Dépôts, André Laurent Michelson était directeur des fonds d’épargne jusqu’en 2010 et secrétaire général du Groupe depuis lors. Il a été nommé caissier général de la Caisse des Dépôts par décret présidentiel, fonction effective à compter du 3 février 2014.Pour sa part, Jean-Marc Morin a notamment rejoint le ministère du budget puis, de l’économie et des finances, pour y exercer différentes fonctions juridiques. En 2002, il est sous-directeur de cette même sous-direction à la direction des affaires juridiques du ministère de l’économie, des finances et de l’industrie. En 2003, il est nommé directeur des affaires juridiques de l’Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, membre du comité de direction de l’établissement. Il rejoint la Caisse des Dépôts en mai 2011 comme adjoint du directeur juridique et fiscal du Groupe. Il est adjoint au secrétaire général du Groupe et directeur juridique et fiscal du Groupe depuis le 1er mars 2012.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Vanguard has posted USD150bn in net subscriptions in 2013, setting a new record for the sector for the second consecutive year. The low-cost message from the firm appears to have resonated with investors, Financial Times fund management observed. But Vanguard’s CEO Bill McNabb says that the performance of the firm is not solely due to its low cost. It also reflects a strategic plan put in place during the financial crisis. The first step was to begin to take ETFs seriously, both in the United States and Europe. McNabb also wanted more clarity on international opportunities. The priority has also been given to deepening relationships with clients.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The British firm Premier Asset Management (AM) has recruited Paul Pugh to the newly-created position of head of strategic partnerships on its sales team. He will be responsible for the development of distribution of funds from Premier AM, a service for the management of portfolios and investment outsourcing offers with key partners, including regional financial advisers and life insurance companies. Pugh, formerly of Cazeonve Capital, Sarasin & Partners and Zurich Intermediary Group, previously worked until January 2014 at Sarasin & Partners, where he was director of sales and investment.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The Norwegian sovereign fund (USD810bn in assets) has prohibited investment in two Israeli companies, Africa Israel Investments and Danya Cebus, due to “serious violations” of human rights, Financial Times fund management reports. The Norwegian finance minister has placed the two businesses on a blacklist due to their suspected involvement in settlements in East Jerusalem, which are illegal under international law. The move comes in the context of a European boycott of Israeli busineses with activities in the Palestinian territories.

New York Life Investments announced yesterday that it has completed its acquisition of Dexia Asset Management, an asset manager, with management centers in Brussels, Paris, Luxembourg and its investment boutique, Ausbil, based in Sydney, for EUR 380 million.Dexia Asset Management joins New York Life Investments’ family of investment boutiques, complementing its current capabilities in fixed income, equities and alternative investments and adds USD100 billion in assets under management, bringing New York Life Investments’ total assets under management to USD511 billion.Naïm Abou-Jaoudé will continue in his role as chief executive officer and chairman of the executive committee of Dexia Asset Management and Paul Xiradis will remain chief executive officer of Ausbil. Yie-Hsin Hung, in addition to her current role as co-president of New York Life Investment Management and chairman of New York Life Investment Management International, becomes chairman of the board of directors of Dexia Asset Management. Naïm Abou-Jaoudé joins the executive committee of New York Life Investment Management International as vice chairman.“Expanding our asset management business in Europe and Australia represents a significant growth opportunity for New York Life to become a key player in the global asset management arena, adding important scale and geographical diversity to our business,” said John Kim, vice chairman, New York Life. “As with our other boutiques, Dexia Asset Management will preserve the integrity of its investment processes, portfolio management teams and distinct culture, while at the same time benefit from the strength, resources and capital of New York Life.”Naïm Abou-Jaoudé, chief executive officer and chairman of the executive committee, Dexia Asset Management, said: “We are pleased to confirm our commitment to maintaining our local presence, platforms, teams and investment processes.”

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The private bank Lombard Odier has appointed a new head of private banking in Zurich, in the person of Dominique Wohnlich, according to a statement released on 3 February. Wohnlich, who has been in office since 1 February as Local Managing Director, will continue the development of wealth management activities at the Zurich office, which has 100 employees. Wohnlich had been head of private equity investment at Credit Suisse for the private banking segment. Before joining Credit Suisse in 2007, he spent more than six years at UBS. He succeeds Richard Nahmani, who led the Zurich office from 1991 to 2013, and who become director of an affiliated company at Lombard Odier. The Lombard Odier group has also appointed Felix Xavier Oeschger as head of Swiss private clients in Zurich.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } BNP Paribas Securities Services on 3 February announced that it is developing its deposotiry banking activities on the Swiss market. The expansion permits its instituional clients and asset managers who manage funds domiciled in Switzerland to benefit from the pan-European experience of the bank in the area of depository services (custody and registry, management of financial flows and supervision), and the solidity of a major international banking group. The launch response to a growing desire on the part of clients of BNP Paribas Securities Services to consolidate its operational services in Switzerland, particularly depository banking and custody services. The bank has already won its first depository banking mandate in this market from one of the largest independent fund of funds management firms in Switzerland. With this major step, it affirms its engagement on the Swiss market.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Jupiter Asset Management is adding to its Swiss sales team with the recruitment of Daniel Frauenfelder to the position of sales manager for the German-speaking Swiss market. Frauenfelder has more than 15 years of experience in asset management at Sarasin, ING Investment Management and Allianz Global Investors, among others. He will report to Evelyn Lederle, director of sales and head of Jupiter Asset Management (Switzerland) AG, a company founded in November.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Baring Asset Management has announced the opening of a representative office in Switzerland. The office will be located in Geneva, and will be led by Véronique Fournier, who is appointed as head of Switzerland and global head of private banking in charge of the development of activities serving private banks. Fournier will report both to Angus Woodhouse, global head of distribution, and to Oliver Morath, head of EMEA sales. Fournier will be responsible for French-speaking Swiss clients. German-speaking Swiss clients will be handled by Thomas Justen from the Frankfurt office. The new director of the Swiss office of Baring AM previously worked at Schroder Investment Management, where she served as relationship director, global financial institutions group.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The UBS group on 4 February announced that it has earned net profits of GBP3.2bn, compared with a loss of GBP2.5bn in the previous year. The firm has also profited from a rebound in confidence on the part of its clients, with net inflows of CHF54bn to wealth management activities, a 14% increase compared with 2012, Assets invested by the Group totalled CHF2.39trn as of the end of fourth quarter, up by CHF51bn compared with the previous quarter. Assets invested in Wealth Management were up CHF15bn to CHF886bn as of 31 December 2013, due to the positive performance of the markets of CHF12bn and a net inflows of CHF6bn, partly offset by negative currency effects of CHF2bn. Assets invested with Wealth Management Americas were up by CHF34bn to CHF865bn as of 31 December 2013. In US dollars, assets invested were up by USD51bn to USD970bn, reflecting a positive evolution of the markets of USD46bn, and sustained inflows. Asstes invested in Global Asset Management were up by CHF3bn to CHF583bn as of 31 December 2013. The positive performance of the markets for CHF16bn was partly offset by a net outflow of CHF7bn and negative currency effects of CHF6bn.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Alain Grisay, former CEO of F&C Asset Management, has died, Investment Week reports. Grisay, 59, left F&C, where he had been CEO since 2006, in 2012. He also worked at J.P. Morgan for 20 years.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Ben Lord, head of fixed interest, will now assume responsibility for the M&G UK Inflation Linked Corporate Bond fund, while Jim Leaviss becomes second manager, Money Marketing reports. Lord and Leaviass had previously been co-managers of the fund, whose assets under management total GBP837m. Leaviss will also work as second manager of the M&G Gilt and Fixed Interest Income fund (GBP773m), on which he had previously been principal manager. The fund is now managed by Mike Riddell. Leaviss will be principal manager of the M&G Inflation Linked Corporate Bond fund, while Lord becomes second manager. They had previously both been co-managers of the fund.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Due to its absolute return product, the Standard Life GARS Fund, Standard Life Investments has led fund inflows in the United Kingdom, with net subscriptions totalling GBP3.47bn, not far off double the inflows of its nearest rival, Old Mutual Global Investors, which total GBP1.81bn, according to the most recent edition of the Pridham Report, Investment Week reports. They are followed by BlackRock (GBP1.63bn), Artemis, (GBP1.49bn), BNY Mellon (GBP1.46bn), Cazenove (GBP1.16bn in first half alone, as the asset management firm was then acquired by Schroders), Henderson (GBP1.02bn), Schroders (GBP980m), and AXA IM (GBP878.3m).

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The CEO of the British bank Barclays, Antony Jenkins, on 3 February announced that he would be renouncing all bonuses for the year 2013. Jenkins stated that he has taken the decision due to the various fines and provisions written down by the group, and due to the effort required of shareholders as part of a capital increase of nearly GBP6bn last year. “I have concluded that it would not be fair, under the circumstances, for me to accept a bonus for 2013, and I have therefore respectively declined the one which was offered me by the board of directors,” Jenkins, who was appointed in summer 2012 to restore the reputation of the bank embroiled in the Libor scandal, says in a statement.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } On 30 January, Schroders increased its stake in the capital of Liontrust Asset Management from 19.6% to nearly 23%, according to a statement released to the London Stock Exchange by the British firm. The announcement comes a few days after the publication of interim results by Liontrust AM, marked by growth in its assets of GBP196m between 1 October and 31 December 2013, bringing its total asses under management to GBP3.6bn.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Paamco, one of the largest fund of hedge fund groups, is now asking consultants to sign non-disclosure agreements to protect its intellectual property, Financial Times fund management reports. The initiative is a response to growing concerns that consultants may use manager selection ideas for their own multi-management products. International Asset Managemnet, a UK-based fund of hedge fund firm, has also stopped to share some information with the large consultants.