P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:link { } Asset management firms based in the United Kingdom may be offloading GBP1bn in costs per year by bundling them up in with opaque commissions charged to clients, Financial Times Fund Management finds. The figures include payments to access businesses, as well as research by third parties. British passively-managed equity funds, which do not pay for research or for access to businesses, generally charge commissions equivalent to 2.1 basis points on the securities they buy and sell, FTfm finds, citing figures from SCM Private. At the same time, the major British asset managers charged commissions averaging 10.4 basis points, which suggests that 8.3 basis points went to research and other costs.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:link { } Despite their exponential growth, ETFs remain products which some catgories of investors are still wary of. Three quarters of advisers do, of course, use ETPs, according to a surey by WealthManagement.com of 735 advisers («Advisor Use of ETPs –And Lessons From the Trenches,”) which nonetheless fins that one quarter are still not using ETFs in client portfolios. Among non-users, 42.5% of advisres say that they do not have adequate knowledge of these investment vehicles. Some (18.6%) also say that mutual funds are more appropriate products for their clients, while others (18%) say that ETPs are not products made for their clients. Many advisers claim that they need more and more robust information about ETPs. “It is normal that advisers are not yet completely at ease, since this is really a new sector of activity,” says Adam Patti, CEO and founder of the ETF provider IndexIQ. The survey also finds that advisers are attached to vehicles which they know well, such as actively-managed mutual funds. When asked about their vehicled of choice other than ETPs, 44.7% of adviers mention actively-managed mutual funds, well ahead of tracker mutual funds (25.6%). There is thus still a lot of work and education to be done. The primary sources of information for adviers who use ETPs are websites (52.9%) and documents provided by sponsors (50.4%). Far fewer are interested in independent research on the subject. Specialists regret that there is not yet a good reference resource for ETFs. The US asset management association (ICI) last autumn launched an informational website about ETFs (http://www.understandetfs.org), which represents an initial step in that direction.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:link { } Russell Investments has announced that NYSE Euronext and the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) will exclusively offer options based on Russell indices. The agreement will reinforce the complementary strengths of the two operators, the largest on the US options market, according to a statement from Russell. The newagreement with CBOE, a pioneering operator in the development of the options and index options market, will also improve Russell’s capacity to provide education in options. Trading of Russell index options is expected to begin in late April.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:link { } In 2012 overall, assets under management at Natixis Global Asset Management (NGAM) increased by EUR47bn to EUR591bn, with the strongest net subscriptions coming from the United States, at EUR4.5bn, the Börsen-Zeitung reports. Pierre Servant, CEO of NGAM, states that the holding company has since 2000 been run from Paris and Boston. As the global asset management market is 50% located in the United States and 30% in Europe, it is highly important to be Franco-American, the manager says.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:link { } The AXA Private Equity firm, which since October 2012 has been the major shareholder in the industrial negineering group Fives, on Monday, 11 March announced that the firm has signed an agreement to acquire MAG Americas, an international group specialised in high-tech equipment. The operation is pending approval from the relevant regulatory authorities. MAG Americas has about 1,000 employees based in the United States, France, Canada, China and South Korea. In 2012, the firm had a portfolio of 100 patents, and earned revenues of about EUR400m, two thirds of which was in North America.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:link { } In line with what was recently announced in Paris (see Newsmangers of 27 February), Dominique Carrel-Billiard, CEO of Axa Investment Managers, has told Financial Times Fund Management (FTFM) that the firm he leads will be highly active in the recruitment of teams from competitors, a formula whose profitability is much more sure than external growth. The manager is particularly interested in emerging market, loans and liability-driven investment (LDI) teams.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:link { } BNY Mellon has announced that it has been granted three patents on processes developed by the firm, which allow for commodities to be traded via ETFs. The commodities covered by the patents also include silver and other industrial and precious metals. “These patents recognize that BNY Mellon has created an innovative processes which transforms metal or other commodities which are generally an encumbrance into easily-traded securities,” says Joseph Keenan, head of the Global ETF Services unit at BNY Mellon. BNY Mellon acts as a custodian and administrator for about half of all ETFs traded in the United States.

EDHEC-Risk Institute, in a statement published on March 11th, disagrees with the position of the ESMA Securities and Markets Stakeholder Group (SMSG) in its advice to ESMA dated 26 February 2013, which not only makes the assumption that the governance approach and transparency approach are substitutable and that therefore a lack of transparency could be compensated by an improvement in the rules of governance, but also presents the governance approach as the high road and transparency as a fallback solution enabling external monitoring to be carried out in the absence of “sound governance mechanisms.” As an academic institution, EDHEC-Risk Institute wishes to recall that the position of the SMSG is in total contradiction with research results which show clearly that the efficiency and integrity of a market are directly related to the quantity and quality of the information available and not to the goodwill displayed by participants in the market. Edhec also points out that smart beta indices contain exposures to different risk factors than cap-weighted indices and rely on methodologies that obviously present model and parameter estimation risks. It is therefore essential for investors to be able to carry out risk analysis easily and to avail of non-biased information on the quality of track records and the robustness of the performance displayed by index providers. Providing the public with the information required to independently replicate an index for evaluation or research purposes should not be misrepresented as denying index providers the right to protect and enforce their intellectual property rights. There are legal as well as contractual tools (e.g. licenses) to defend index providers against unauthorised uses of their methodologies and data, Edhec concludes.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:link { } The Swiss bankers’ association (ASB) has appointed Peter Grünblatt to coordinate its Asset Management initiative, the association announced on 11 March.The project aims to improve overarching conditions in asset management, a sector which the ASB considers capital to the Swiss financial market.Grünblatt, 51, has served since 2001 in positinos of responsibility in the area of investment products at Credit Suisse, including the affiliate Banque Leu, which later became Clariden Leu, a statement from the ASB says.In a 20-page document, the association lays out the top objectives for the asset management sector, which has developed less in recent year than rival centres in London and New York. The reason given for this observtion is that “external” factors are affecting the legal and fiscal framework, which is less competitive, as well as “internal” factors such as a lack of promotion of asset management as a Swiss brand in and of itself.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:link { } Vontobel is this week launching an online platform for external asset managers (EAM), according to the website finews. The new resource, entitled Vontobel EAMNet, will be available to all external asset managers with a cooperation agreement with Vontobel. Users will have access to all updated research from Vontobel. Vontobel will compete with Credit Suisse, which has recently announced that it plans to launch an online platform of the same type in the next few weeks for external asset managers (Newsmanagers of 19 February 2013).

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:link { } In February, funds on sale in Sweden recorded net inflows totalling SEK14.6bn (EUR1.9bn), according to the most recent report from the Swedish investment fund association, Fondbolagens Förening. This is the highest level since Otober 2009. Inflows went largely to equity funds (SEK8bn) and balanced funds (SEK7.6bn). Money market funds also attracted SEK3.9bn. For equity funds, Swedish products took the lion’s share of inflows, with SEK6.2bn. However, bond funds have seen outflows of SEK3.8bn. Since the beginning of the year, funds on sale in Sweden have posted net inflows of SEK22.8bn, of which SEK16.7bn went to equity funds. As of the end of February, assets in funds on sale in Sweden totalled SEK2.153trn, a record level, Of this total, 54% are managed in equity funds.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:link { } State Street Global Advisors (SSgA) is currently working to launch two ETFs to protect investors against inflation via TIPS, IndexUniverse reports. The funds, the SPDR Barclays 0-5 Year TIPS ETF and the SPDR Barclays 1-10 Year TIPS ETF, are on the short and mid parts of the curve, as TIPS are generally offered with maturities of 5, 10 and 20 years. At a time when investors remain concerned by the potential rise of inflationary pressures, the market is currently offering 11 ETFs based on TIPS which have posted inflows of USD1.88bn in the past 12 months. The largest is the iShares Barclays TIPS bond fund, whose assets under management total USD22bn.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:link { } On 1 February, Barclays Wealth Managers España registered the Barclauys Renta Fija 2018 fund, a fund maturing on 1 February 2018 with non-guaranteed returns of 2.7% per year compared with its net asset value as of 15 March 2013, when subscriptions close, with the CNMV. It will invest primarily inSpanish government and corporate bonds.CharacteristicsName: Barclays Renta Fija 2018, FIISIN code: ES0118845009Front-end fee: 2%Management commission: 1%Early withdrawal penalty: 1%

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:link { } With the registration of the Digital Funds Luxembourg Sicav by the CNMV, J. Chahine Capital has become the first foreign asset management firm to enter Spain this year Funds People reports. The two sub-funds licensed by the Spanish regulator are the Digital Stars Europe and Digital Stars Europe Ex-UK.Funds People reports that 16 foreign asset management firms arrived in Spain in 2012.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:link { } The best-selling fund of 2012 in Europe was the AllianceBernstein – American Income Portfolio fund from the Axa – Alliance Bernstein group, with net inflows of EUR8.23bn, according to the annual European fund report from Lipper, published on Monday.Pimco takes the next three places, with the Pimco GIS Total Return Bond Fund (EUR8.06bn0, the Pimco GIS Global Investment Grade Credit (EUR5.86bn) and the Pimco GIS Diversified Income Fund (EUR5.58bn).In fourth and fifth place are UK asset management firms: Standard Life and M&G, with the Standard Life Global Absolute Return Strategies (EUR5.49bn) and the M&G Optimal Income Fund (EUR5.14bn).In seventh and eighth place, the Axa group returns with two high yield bond funds, Axa IM FIIS – US Short Duration High Yield (EUR4.55bn) and AllianceBernstein – Global High Yield Portfolio (EUR3.79bn). Lastly, in tenth place is Pimco, with the Pimco GIS Unconstrained Bond Fund (EUR2.92bn). The rankings are clearly dominated by bond funds, which in 2012 recorded net sales of EUR22.62bn in Europe, while the sector overall had a net total of EUR225.2bn.The top equity fund places only 12th, with the M&G Global Dividend.Only two French groups place in the top 25 best-sellers: Axa, several times in the top ten, and Carmignac, with the Carmignac Patrimione, which in 2012 took in EUR1.97bn.The latter, however, remains the second-largest fund in Europe, with EUR2801bn as of the end of December. The largest fund has not changed: it is the Templeton Global Bond Fund, with EUR34.25bn. The Pimco GIS Total Return Bond Fund moves up from fourth to third place, with EUR25.83bn, overtaking the Templeton Global Total Return Fund.

The International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) published on March 11 the comment letters on the Consultation Report on Financial Benchmarks that was issued on 11 January 2013. The report sought comments from the public on policy issues arising from the work of its Board Level Task Force on Financial Market Benchmarks. More than 50 responses were received. The conclusions of the roundtable discussions the comment letters and the IOSCO Board deliberations in Sydney 21 – 22 March will inform the drafting of the final recommendations on financial benchmarks, after further public consultation in April.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:link { } The Saudi Arabia-based investment platform Sedco Capital has launched an investment platform dedicated to Sharia-compliant institutional investors, Investment Europe reports. The platform provides access to seven funds, whose assets under management already total over USD1bn. Two new funds have been launched at the same time as the plaform, the SC Income Fund, which has USD100m in assets, and the SC Global Markets Sentiement Fund, which is starting out with USD150m. The two funds, managed by Credit Suisse, are aimed at high-end clients, high net worth retail investors, family offices, institutional investors and qualified distributors. The funds come in addition to other Luxembourg-domiciled funds, meaning that Sedco Capital Global Funds now includes 15 funds, with cumulative assets under management of over USD1.6bn.

Zagreb devrait pouvoir adhérer comme prévu à l’Union européenne le 1er juillet après la signature lundi d’un accord avec la Slovénie qui met fin à un contentieux bancaire datant de l'époque de la dislocation de la Yougoslavie. Il concernait la Ljubljanska Banka et la dette de cet établissement slovène envers des déposants croates.

Madrid n’a pas l’intention de fusionner les trois banques espagnoles nationalisées, a déclaré lundi le ministre de l’Economie Luis de Guindos, alors que l’Union européenne impose au gouvernement de les privatiser d’ici 2017. Selon Reuters, l’Espagne envisageait une fusion, partielle ou totale, entre Bankia et Catalunya Banc à la suite de l'échec d’une procédure de vente de cette dernière.

L’investisseur américain, dont la fortune est estimée par le magazine Forbes à 11,2 milliards de dollars, a envisagé de renoncer sa nationalité américaine à la faveur d’un exil vers Porto Rico pour échapper à la loi fiscale des Etats-Unis, selon des sources concordantes. Bloomberg avance que 10 milliardaires américains auraient déjà franchi le pas, alors que 40 autres seraient en voie de le faire.

Rome risque de ne pas être en mesure de respecter la date limite de la fin avril pour la soumission de son programme de stabilité aux autorités européennes en raison de l’impasse politique depuis les élections parlementaires, a déclaré lundi un diplomate italien. Le Parlement nouvellement élu se réunira pour la première fois vendredi.

Nairobi entend placer un Eurobond d’environ 1 milliard de dollars en septembre après la conclusion pacifique d’un scrutin dans la plus grande économie d’Afrique de l’est, a indiqué le ministre des Finances kenyan Robinson Githae. Inculpé par la CPI, Uhuru Kenyatta a été élu à la présidence au premier tour du scrutin du 4 mars. La Zambie prépare également un Eurobond d’ici la fin de l’année.

Le Parlement français a adopté définitivement cette nuit la proposition de loi socialiste sur l'énergie qui prévoit la mise en place au 1er janvier 2015 d’un mécanisme de bonus-malus sur les factures d'électricité, destiné à inciter les consommateurs à réduire leur consommation d'énergie. La proposition de loi avait été rejetée en octobre par le Sénat avec les voix des élus de droite et du Front de gauche.

En visite à Clermont Ferrand, le ministre de l’Economie Pierre Moscovici a signé les premières conventions de préfinancement de ce CICE, accessible dès cette année aux PME et TPE dans la limite de 4% de leur masse salariale. Ce préfinancement prend la forme d’avances de la Banque publique d’investissement ou des banques traditionnelles avec une garantie de cette même BPI.

Les intervenants sur le marché des matières premières agricoles craignaient une position dominante après le rachat de Nyse Euronext

Si leur sous-valorisation n’est plus criante, ces monnaies devraient encore bénéficier de plusieurs facteurs de soutien

Après le ralentissement observé en février, les émetteurs reviennent sur le marché de la dette en euros depuis le début du mois de mars

La devise hongroise est au plus bas depuis dixmois face à l'euro. Le vote d'une réforme constitutionnelle controversée renforce les inquiétudes

Auditionnée par la commission bancaire du Sénat, l'ancienne avocate entend s'attaquer aux dérives du trading haute fréquence

Dans un article publié par l’Agefi, Philippe Rey, responsable des investissements de l’UMR déclare que l’institution a placé 15 millions d’euros dans un fonds investissant exclusivement dans des obligations émises par des PME, en partie garanti par Oséo et géré par Twenty First Capital. Cette garantie est une pièce essentielle du dispositif. La garantie couvre au maximum 70% des investissements (hors coupon) sur les entreprises de moins de 5 ans d’existence et 50% pour les autres, plafonnés à 30% de l’encours total. Chaque émission doit être validée par Oséo. Ce dispositif permet aux investisseurs soumis à Solvabilité 2 de limiter le capital requis (SCR). La valorisation du fonds étant peu volatile (les sous-jacents ne sont pas cotés) et le fonds offrant une garantie partielle, le SCR spread serait compris entre 7,5 et 10,5%, selon les estimations de Twenty First Capital. De plus, le fonds négocie, au cas par cas, des sûretés avec les entreprises qu’elle finance. Autre sécurité pour l’investisseur, Twenty First Capital vient en cofinancement avec un autre partenaire (généralement Boost & Co ou Entrepreneur Venture).