La Banque de Chine contrarie les paris sur l'appréciation continue du renminbi
En laissant sa devise se déprécier significativement, la banque centrale chinoise voudrait limiter les afflux massifs de capitaux
Fédéris GA et Mirova s’engagent pour la gouvernance responsable
Les filiales de Malakoff Médéric Assurance et de Natixis AM ont annoncé un partenariat destiné à promouvoir une démarche de gouvernance responsable. Afin de «renforcer sa politique de vote et de développer une démarche d’engagement avec les entreprises», Fédéris Gestion d’Actifs «s’appuiera sur l’activité de conseils» de Mirova, selon le communiqué commun.
La Fed continuera à réduire progressivement ses rachats d'actifs
La Réserve fédérale continuera à réduire progressivement ses rachats d’actifs, a déclaré jeudi sa présidente Janet Yellen lors d’une audition devant le Sénat, 15 jours après son audition devant la Chambre des représentants. La Fed n’a pas l’intention et ne voit pas la nécessité de liquider rapidement ce portefeuille, a-t-elle ajouté. L'échéance de l’automne cadre avec les anticipations du marché, qui table sur un «tapering» (diminution des rachats) de 10 milliards de dollars supplémentaires chaque mois. Janet Yellen a par ailleurs estimé qu’il était difficile, dans les dernières statistiques économiques mitigées aux Etats-Unis, de distinguer ce qui relève des perturbations météorologiques.
L'économie du Brésil rebondit au dernier trimestre
L'économie brésilienne a échappé à la récession fin 2013, enregistrant une croissance plus forte qu’attendu au dernier trimestre. Le produit intérieur brut a progressé de 0,7% au cours des trois derniers mois de 2013, après s'être contracté de 0,5% au troisième trimestre, montrent les chiffres de l’agence officielle des statistiques IBGE. L’estimation médiane des 43 économistes interrogés par Reuters donnait une expansion limitée à 0,3%. Sur l’ensemble de l’année 2013, l'économie du pays le plus peuplé d’Amérique du Sud a progressé de 2,3% après une hausse de 1% en 2012 et 2,7% en 2011.
Les problèmes de Pimco pénalisent Allianz
Le premier assureur européen anticipe pour 2014 un bénéfice d’exploitation de l’ordre de 10 milliards d’euros, comme en 2013. La contribution de la division gestion d’actifs, dont Pimco est le principal représentant, est susceptible de diminuer. Le gestionnaire américain a pâti d’une décollecte de 41 milliards de dollars sur son fonds phare Pimco Total Return l’an dernier. Au dernier trimestre 2013, le résultat d’exploitation du pôle gestion d’actifs d’Allianz a fondu de 23% à 703 millions d’euros, tandis que les encours gérés ont reculé de 4,4% en un an à 1.770 milliards d’euros, notamment à cause des effets de change liés à l’euro fort. Pimco a enregistré début 2014 le départ de Mohamed El-Erian, co-responsable des investissements avec Bill Gross. Il continue à travailler en tant que conseiller économique en chef d’Allianz à mi-temps, a indiqué hier le directeur général de l’assureur, Michael Diekmann. Ce dernier a en revanche refusé de commenter les informations du Wall Street Journal faisant état de dissenssions entre Mohamed El-Erian et Bill Gross, et qui expliqueraient ce départ. La gouvernance de Pimco n’est pas «un one-man show», a précisé Michael Diekmann, alors que le FT rapportait jeudi matin le souhait de certains actionnaires d’Allianz de voir la compagnie exercer une surveillance plus rapprochée sur sa filiale américaine.
Angela Merkel laisse peu d'espoir à la Grande-Bretagne
La chancelière allemande Angela Merkel a prévenu jeudi la Grande-Bretagne qu’elle ne pouvait pas promettre une réforme majeure de l’Union européenne. «Certains attendaient que mon discours ouvre la voie à une réforme fondamentale de l’architecture européenne de nature à satisfaire tous les souhaits britanniques supposés ou réels, a dit Angela Merkel en anglais devant les parlementaires des deux chambres. J’ai peur qu’il y ait une déception». «D’autres attendaient l’exact contraire et espéraient que j’allais délivrer, ici à Londres, le message clair et simple que le reste de l’Europe était prêt à payer n’importe quel prix pour conserver la Grande-Bretagne dans l’Union européenne. Je crains que ces espoirs soient déçus», a-t-elle ajouté.
L'AMF perd un membre de sa commission des sanctions
Françoise Bonfante a renoncé à sa fonction de membre de la commission des sanctions de l’Autorité des marchés financiers, a annoncé jeudi un communiqué du ministre des Finances Pierre Moscovici. Approuvée par ce dernier, cette nomination avait suscité une polémique en raisons des fonctions de l’intéressée au sein d’UBS. Pierre Moscovici «tient à rappeler que Mme Françoise Bonfante avait été nommée en raison de ses compétences professionnelles et de son expérience dans le domaine de la réglementation des marchés financiers. [Elle] n’a jamais été mise en cause personnellement ni es-qualité dans aucune des procédures visant ou ayant visé la banque UBS», souligne le communiqué, qui occulte le rôle joué par Bercy dans cette décision.
Le FMI va envoyer une délégation en Ukraine
Le nouveau gouvernement ukrainien a adressé une demande d’aide au Fonds monétaire international (FMI). Celui-ci y a répondu en annonçant l’envoi dans les prochains jours d’une délégation dans le pays. «Cela va permettre au FMI (...) d’ouvrir des discussions avec les autorités sur les réformes à entreprendre et qui pourraient servir de base à un programme soutenu par le Fonds», a déclaré sa directrice générale Christine Lagarde. «Il n’y pas d’autre alternative pour nous que de prendre des mesures extrêmement impopulaires», a déclaré le nouveau Premier ministre Arseni Iatséniouk devant la chambre monocamérale ukrainienne. «Nous avons besoin de signer immédiatement un accord avec le FMI», a-t-il ajouté. La devise ukrainienne poursuivait sa chute jeudi, à 10,70 pour un dollar contre 10,15 à la clôture de mercredi.
27/02/2014
Elliott controls 11% of F&C
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); }P.western { font-family: «Times New Roman»,serif; font-size: 12pt; }P.cjk { font-family: «WenQuanYi Micro Hei"; font-size: 12pt; }P.ctl { font-family: «Lohit Hindi"; font-size: 12pt; }A:link { } The New York hedge fund Elliott Management on Wednesday revealed that it holds an 11% stake in F&C, the British asset management firm which is subject to a buyout offer from the Bank of Montreal, the Financial Times reports. Analysts think the hedge fund, which is becoming one of the most prominent activist investors in the United States, will use the GBP80m stake to attract new candidates to the bidding and to get a better price. The Canadian firm’s bid comes in at GBP700m.
27/02/2014
Fullerton Fund Management to set up in London
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Fullerton Fund Management is taking the first step in its international expansion. The asset management firm based in Sinapore, an affiliate of the sovereign fund Temasek Holdings, has made the first moves to establish an office in London and will soon apply for the appropriate licenses from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the British regulator, the British treasury announced on 26 February. This will be the firm’s first location outside Asia. It will allow Fullerton to build new partnerships in the United Kingdom and to grow its client base in Europe. The announcement comes as part of a “financial dialogue” agreement concluded between the British and Singapore authorities, which aims to increase their financial and economic cooperation, while boosting the renminbi markets outside Greater China. The arrival of Fullerton on British soil also follows the launch by the British government of its “Investment Management Strategy” programme, which will aim to improve the competitiveness of the United Kingdom as an asset management centre.
27/02/2014
Merger of River & Mercantile and P-Solve in United Kingdom
River and Mercantile Asset Management, an equity management business, and P-Solve Limited, an investment consultancy and solutions provider, announced on February 26 their agreement to merge, «creating a diversified, client-led investment business», according to a press release. The new business will be known as River and Mercantile Group (R&M Group).The merger is subject to regulatory approval from the FCA.R&M Group will also explore the possibility of an IPO to raise capital for further investment in its growth strategy.R&M now manages assets in excess of GBP2.1bn as of December 2013, including assets in transition. As at 31 December 2013 P-Solve has an estimated GBP31.5bn of assets under advice and GBP8.2bn of assets under management.
27/02/2014
Aviva Investors adopts an integrated commission management system
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:link { } The British Aviva Investors has launched an integrated multi-broker commission sharing management system, developed by the consultant Commcise, which helps asset managers to adapt to new regulations and evolutions of market practice.
27/02/2014
Henderson posts record profits in 2013
Andrew Formica does not conceal his satisfaction. “I am pleased to announce record profits,” the CEO of Henderson announced yesterday at the publication of its annual results. The figures give him cause: Its pre-tax profits total GBP190.1m as of the end of 2013, up by 24.2% compared with the GBP153m posted in 2012. After taxes, profits are up by about 17.8% to GBP125.1m in 2013, compared with GBP106.4m one year previously.Assets under management at the group, for their part, are up by 14.6% to GBP75.2bn as of the end of 2013, compared with GBP65.6bn at the end of 2012. This development has been driven both by a positive market effect, and, above all, a net inflows of GBP2.5bn. However, most subscriptions came in the fourth quarter. After outflows of GBP210m in the first nine months of the year, Henderson has taken in GBP2.7bn in fourth quarter, including GBP2.5bn from retail clients, and GBP197mfrom institutional clients. In total, in the institutional client segment alone, the asset management firm has seen outflows of GBP2bn for the year 2013 overall. These outflows are largely compensated for by net inflows to the retail segment, which total GBP4.4bn.
27/02/2014
French regulator finalises transposition of AIFM directive
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:link { } As part of its finalisation of the transposition of the AIFM directive, the French Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) has modified its general regulations concerning collective savings providers and products, according to a statement from the AMF. The minister of economics and finance passed the new ruled by a decree dated 11 December 2013 published in the official journal for 20 December 2013, and a decree dated 11 February 2014, published in the Official Journal for 20 February 2014.
27/02/2014
Analysts opt out of surveys of asset management firms
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:link { } Goldman Sachs, Barclays, JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup are among the 18 brokerage firms which have signed an agreement with the attorney general of New York, Eric Schneiderman, to cease participating in surveys of analysts which appear to give certain asset management firms advance warning of changes to recommendations on their shares, the Financial Times reports. The agreement, which comes less than two months after the one signed with BlackRock, cover all research into equities listed on US stock markets. Schneiderman says that the behaviour of firms, which he calls “insider trading 2.0,” helped “a certain elite, clients who are sophisticated from a technological point of view, at the expense of others.”
27/02/2014
iShares preparing two ETFs of Gulf countries
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:link { } iShares is planning to launch two ETFs dedicated to Gulf countries, one of them Qatar, the other the United Arab Emirates, the website invezz reports. The two new vehicles, the MSCI Qatar Capped ETF and the MSCI UAE Capped ETF, will replicate the MSCI All Qatar Capped for the former and the MSCI All UAE Capped Index for the latter.
27/02/2014
EFG International posts a slight increase in subscriptions in 2013
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The banking group EFG International has posted net subscriptions in 2013 of CHF3.2bn, compared with CHF3bn in 2012. Over the year as a whole subscriptions are up slightly, but “the evolution of net inflows of new capital have proven disappointing in second half, reflecting market conditions and substantial outflows from funds due to the abandonment of low-value accounts in Hong Kong following regulatory modifications applicable to high net worth clients,” the group has explained in a statement. As of the end of 2013, assets under management which generate revenues were up to CHF75.9bn, compared with CHF78.7bn as of the end of 2012. This decline reflects a decline of CHF6.0bn following sales (EFG Financial Products and Canada) and the abandonment of activities, and a reclassification of assets under administration totalling CHF1.0bn, compensated for by a contribution of CHF1.8bn due to currency and market effects.
27/02/2014
Family offices prefer wealth management in Switzerland
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:link { } The Swiss financial market is continuing to benefit from the preferences of Famiy Offices in the area of wealth management, Agefi Switzerland reports. Although Luxembourg is also favoured by some, emerging financial centres such as Singapore are still playing a minor role in this area, the most recent edition of the study of family offices carried out for Complementa Investment Controlling, with the cooperation of KPMG and others, reveals. “Family offices are generally oriented to the long-term and are relatively little influenced by current developments,” Wolfgang Gerke, co-author of the study and chairman of the Bavarian finance centre, explained at a conference in Zurich. The possible reasons for a move in wealth management might include protection from regulatory intrusion, obtaining increased legal security, and ensuring greater discretion. But the heads of family offices surveyed are far from considering such changes in the management of their wealth.
27/02/2014
Wealth management profits up 3% at Royal Bank of Canada
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:link { } Net profits in the wealth management unit of the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) totalled CAD235m in first quarter 2014, which is up by CAD6m, or 3%, compared with the previous quarter, according to a statement released on 26 February. This evolution is largely due to an increase in average assets related to paid services to clients associated with capital appreciation and a high net inflow. Assets under management are up 10% in first quarter, to a total of CAD412bn. For their part, assets under administration are up 8% to CAD675bn.
27/02/2014
KBL Gestion finds 2014 a good time to show off its strengths
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:link { } In 2013, KBL Richelieu Gestion, an affiliate of KBL Richelieu Banque Privée, saw net outflows of EUR103m. Money market funds alone are responsible for net redemptions representing EUR92m. KBL Richelieu Gestion is tempted to move on to other things, and has spent its first weeks in 2014 building up its total assets by about 9%, or nearly EUR80m, for a total of EUR940m. “This increase is the result of both market effects and an inflow effect,” says Nathalie Martin-Pelras, head of investments at KBL Richelieu Gestion and manager of the KBL Richelieu Spécial fund, without specifying their respective weights. The head plans to seize the occasion this year for several promising themes which the asset management firm considers to have high legitimacy. These include, firstly, a catch-up phenomenon which is expected to continue to profit small and midcaps. In France, the appearance of the new PEA-PME is expected to contribute to the outperformance of small and midcaps. For this reason, KBL Richelieu is preparing to launch a fund eligible for investment from PEA retirement savings accounts by the end of February, dedicated to PEA PME-ETI: KBL Richelieu Medium Companies. In another area, Martin-Pelras plans to take 2014 as the occasion for a theme focused on returning cash to the shareholder. Despite its optimism and hopes, the asset management firm has no plans in the short term to add to its personnel.
27/02/2014
Lazard launches an Irish version of its Global Equity Income fund
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Lazard Asset Management is adding to its product range. The asset management firm has launched a Dublin-domiciled version of its Global Equity Income fund, managed by Pat Ryan, with share classes in pounds sterling and US dollars, FT Adviser reports. Tony Maddox, head of third-party distribution at Lazard, has explained that the launch was driven by client demand.
27/02/2014
Morningstar Credit Ratings recruits a chief credit officer
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:link { } Morningstar Credit Ratings has announced the recruitments of Calvin Wong as chief credit officer, particularly as head of imrovement of internal ratings controls. Calvin Wong, who had previously worked at Standard & Poor’s, where he had been responsible for ratings of structured finance, will be based in New York, where he will report to Vickie Tillman, chairman of Morningstar Credit Ratings.
27/02/2014
Italian funds post inflows of nearly EUR4bn in January
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:link { } Open-ended funds on sale in Italy in January posted net inflows of EUR3.9bn, according to the most recent statistics from Assogestioni, the Italian association of asset management professionals. 2014 is starting out with a fanfare for Italian collective management, after a record year in 2013. Inflows were driven by flexible funds, which alone took in EUR3.5bn, followed by balanced funds, which have taken on EUR1.2bn. Equity funds, for their part, have posted net subscriptions of EUR728m. However, bond funds have seen outflows of EUR944m, money market funds EUR466m, and hedge funds EUR92m. In mandated asset management, the results are less flattering, with net redemptions of EUR5.4bn.
27/02/2014
Pimco will launch new equity strategies
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Virginie Maisonneuve, who has freshly arrived as deputy chief investment officer at Pimco, is planning to launch a new equity strategy which will include a differentiation of investment regions and will use more hedging techniques against extreme risks, Financial News reports. ‘Nothing is written in stone, but we are planning to carefully add new equity pillars as additions to those which we already have that may include ways of exploiting market inefficiencies.”
27/02/2014
Elliot raises its bid for Riverbed
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:link { } The alternative asset management firm Elliott Management has raised its bid fro Riverbed Technology by 9% to USD3.36bn, the news agency Reuters reports. On 15 January, Riverbed rejected a bid by Elliott which valued the firm at USD3.08bn. Elliott, which owns a 10.5% stake in the capital of Riverbed, is now offering USD21 per share, a premium of 5.8% over the closing share price on Monday, 24 February, and says it may raise its bid further in order to have access to the company’s books and to initiate a due diligence.
27/02/2014
Allianz shareholders worried about Pimco
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); }P.western { font-family: «Times New Roman»,serif; font-size: 12pt; }P.cjk { font-family: «WenQuanYi Micro Hei"; font-size: 12pt; }P.ctl { font-family: «Lohit Hindi"; font-size: 12pt; }A:link { } Shareholders in Allianz are calling on the insurer to take measures concerning Pimco, out of concern for its health following the shock departure of its CEO, Mohamed El-Erian, following friction with the chief investment officer, Bill Gross, the Financial Times reports. Investors are asking whether the personnel problems may slow the capacity of Pimco to confront an increasingly difficult environment for bonds. Some feel that Allianz may intervene to control Pimco more in the wake of the departure of El-Erian. Pimco contributes 30% to the operating profits of Allianz.
27/02/2014
AllianceBernstein recruits for fund of funds business
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); }P.western { font-family: «Times New Roman»,serif; font-size: 12pt; }P.cjk { font-family: «WenQuanYi Micro Hei"; font-size: 12pt; }P.ctl { font-family: «Lohit Hindi"; font-size: 12pt; }A:link { } AllianceBernstein, managing USD445 billion in assets under management, announced on February 26 that Michael H. Conn has joined the firm as Managing Director - Strategy, Operations and Development, supporting the firm’s growing fund of funds business. He will be based in Los Angeles and report to Marc Gamsin, Head of AllianceBernstein’s Alternative Investment Management Group. In this newly created role, Conn will work closely with Gamsin to develop the business strategy and new products for the group, as well as support existing and potential clients. He will also collaborate with the broader alternatives team to enhance the firm’s diverse product offerings and help clients better understand the role alternatives can play in their portfolio. Today, AllianceBernstein manages approximately USD16 billion in alternative assets and offers a range of strategies and capabilities that span asset classes and liquidity profiles.Conn joins AllianceBernstein from The TCW Group, Inc., where he was most recently Managing Director, Head of Corporate Strategy and Development for both traditional and alternative investments globally.
27/02/2014
Aberdeen AM acquires an Indonesian asset management firm
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); }P.western { font-family: «Times New Roman»,serif; font-size: 12pt; }P.cjk { font-family: «WenQuanYi Micro Hei"; font-size: 12pt; }P.ctl { font-family: «Lohit Hindi"; font-size: 12pt; }A:link { } Aberdeen Asset Management is accelerating its development in the Asia-Pacific region. The Scottish asset mangement firm on 26 February announced the acquisition of 80% of capital in the Indonesian firm PT NISP Asset Management (NISPAM), an affiliate of the financial group PT NSIM Sekuritas, Asia Asset Management reveals. The price of the acquisition, carried out through the regional affiliate of Aberdeen AM in Asia, has not been revealed.
27/02/2014
ETF market prepares for rebound
Reports of the death of the European exchange-traded fund (ETF) market are greatly exaggerated, following a dramatic fall in growth in 2013. Last year, net new flows to European ETFs slumped 25% to EUR13.8 billion, down from the EUR19 billion seen in 2012. It was a far cry from the heady days of 2008 when inflows hit more than EUR52 billion. «Those predicting the European ETF market’s demise say it only prospered as a result of the financial crisis as investors fled derivatives and sought the relative safety of ETFs as a fast and effective way of gaining exposure to an index,» noted Barbara Wall, Cerulli’s Europe research director. «They say ETFs are proving less attractive now that the markets are on a firmer footing. However, enthusiasts of European ETFs point to an inflow of €1 billion in January 2014, bucking the worldwide trend of outflows for that month, and suggesting a better year ahead.» Angelos Gousios, a senior analyst at Cerulli Associates, believes cost and transparency are material considerations for the ETF sector. «Total expense ratios have even been as low as 0% for ETFs, with providers being able to generate income by enhancements such as dividend optimization,» he noted. «However, the industry needs to promote simplicity and transparency in a market that has grown too complex.»
27/02/2014
Allianz GI closes two funds
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:link { } Allianz Global Investors on 20 February closed two funds, according to Fondsweb. They are the Allianz Asia Pacific Equity (LU0204481138) and Allianz Discovery Europe Strategy (LU0384027578).