Dans une contribution au Temps, Michel Juvet, associé de Bordier & Cie revient sur la place des femmes dans la finance. «Le monde de la finance est sans aucun doute un monde toujours dominé par les hommes, mais avec les années, le nombre de femmes traders, gestionnaires de fortune ou analystes financières a progressé et le gender gap quantitatif dans ce secteur s’est réduit», souligne-t-il. Michel Juvet cite le blog de Nelli Oster, directrice chez BlackRock, qui a synthétisé dans un blog ses observations et celles de Vanguard, Fidelity ou Boston Group sur le comportement des femmes dans les processus d’investissement et les prises de décision. Elle souligne notamment les avantages de la féminité aux commandes dans la finance.
State Street Global Advisors (SSgA) vient de nommer Helene Veltman au poste de stratégiste senior en charge des solutions au sein justement de son pôle de solutions d’investissements couvrant l’Europe, le Moyen Orient et l’Afrique, révèle IPE.com. Basée à Londres, elle sera responsable des prospects et des clients néerlandais.Avant de rejoindre SSgA, Helene Veltman officiait chez Axa Investment Managers en tant que directrice du fiduciary management et du «liability-driven investment». Auparavant, elle a travaillé dans la gestion du risque pour les dérivés actions et les solutions pour les clients assureurs et fonds de pensions de Société Générale. Elle a également travaillé chez HSBC et Commerzbank.
Schroders va consacrer des ressources à des équipes qui créeront des algorithmes afin de remplacer les informations autrefois obtenues auprès d’analystes sell-side, suivant ainsi l’exemple de BlackRock et d’autres dans le secteur des hedge funds, rapporte Financial News. Schroders va recruter des équipes mais aussi recourir à des sociétés spécialisées. Ces équipes auront pour mission d’interpréter la masse d’informations désormais disponible en ligne provenant des médias sociaux, des sites d’informations locaux et professionnels, des communiqués d’entreprises, des retranscriptions de conférences téléphoniques et des dossiers déposés auprès des autorités.
Deutsche Annington a annoncé vendredi 28 février l’acquisition de deux portefeuilles d’actifs immobiliers résidentiels. Il s’agit dans le premier des cas d’un portefeuille de 30.000 logements situés dans le Nord et l’Ouest du pays, pour 1,4 milliard d’euros., acquis auprès de Vitus Immobilien. Le deuxième portefeuille comporte 11.500 unités de logements et était géré par DeWAG, racheté pour 970 millions d’euros.
Arthur Caye, associé de la banque privée Lombard Odier, va quitter l'établissement au 1er mai, a indiqué Le Temps dans son édition du 28 février. Il va retourner auprès de son ancien employeur Capital Group.Le quotidien cite une note interne, qui explique que «cette décision est dictée par la volonté de se recentrer pleinement sur sa passion d’origine: l’investissement, plus précisément la recherche et la gestion de portefeuilles».Arthur Caye était associé de Lombard Odier depuis deux ans. «Il s’agit d’un choix de vie qui s’explique par mon parcours professionnel passé en grande partie déjà chez Capital», a indiqué Arthur Caye, cité par le quotidien. Il ajoute qu’il restera «personnellement proche» de Lombard Odier et «pleinement confiant en son avenir».A son départ, les associés de Lombard Odier seront huit, puisque Hugo Bänziger y fera son entrée le 1er avril.
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Tony Fenner-Leitão, CEO of Winton Capital, the fourth-largest hedge fund in Europe in terms of assets under management (USD25bn), has resigned from his position, the website of the Wall Street Journal reported on 28 February. He will be replaced by David Harding, executive chairman and founder of the firm. Fenner-Leitão, former executive director of Goldman Sachs, joined Winton Capital in 2008, where he became deputy to Anthony Daniell in 2012 before succeeding him as CEO in January 2013. According to a statement from Winton Capital, Fenner-Leitão is reported to have decided to return to the United States for family reasons. The departure does not appear to cast plans for development at the asset management firm into doubt. Harding has announced plans in a statement to launch five new funds and to open new offices in New York, Tokyo and Sydney.
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } JPMorgan is planning to launch its first ETFs in Europe since the last quarter of this year, Ignites Europe reports. The asset management firm, better known for its actively-managed equity funds, is planning to release a range of actively-managed ETFs. They will also be released in the United States.
Janus Capital Group on February 28 announced the launch of the Janus Multi-Sector Income Fund that seeks to identify income-generating opportunities across fixed income sectors. The fund will be managed by Janus Capital Management LLC.Janus Multi-Sector Income Fund employs an active management approach that balances a focus on high current income with risk considerations at the security and portfolio level. The fund will typically hold between 35% and 65% below investment grade bonds and has wide flexibility to invest across all sectors of the global fixed income market.Janus Multi-Sector Income Fund will be managed by Seth Meyer, portfolio manager; John Kerschner, global head of securitized products and portfolio manager; and John Lloyd, global head of credit research and portfolio manager.
After two consecutive weeks of declines, redemptions from emerging markets equity funds accelerated during the fourth week of February against a backdrop that included the political crisis in the Ukraine and China’s renminbi joined the ranks of depreciating emerging market currencies, according to EPFR.Investors pumped USD15.9 billion into developed markets equity and bond funds while pulling USD4.8 billion out of emerging markets equity and bond funds. Year-to-date they have committed just shy of USD90 billion to the former while pulling USD41 billion from the latter.Overall, equity funds absorbed a net USD8.2 billion in the seven days ending February 26 while bond funds pulled in USD2.9 billion. Money market funds posted inflows of USD14.7 billion despite redemptions from Europe money market funds hitting a nine week high.Japan Equity Funds saw commitments drop off sharply during the fourth week of February, from over USD1 billion the week ending Feb. 19 to USD5 million, as yen-denominated flows turned negative for the first time since mid-December. On the horizon is a 3% increase in the national sales tax, taking it from 5% to 8%, that is due to go into effect April 1.
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Global investment in commercial real estate is expected to increase by more han 55% in 2020 compared with 2012, with a gain of 27% in Europe, according to a PwC study, “Real Estate 2020.” This strong increase is largely due to demographic and economic growth in emerging countries. According to Geoffrey Schmitt, a partner at PwC responsible for real estate activity, “although these trends may appear clear, there is still a tendency to underestimate the scale of the changes expected by 2020. By 2050, the urban population will increase y 75%, with 6.3 billion inhabitants, compared with 3.6 billion in 2010.”
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } State Street Global Advisors (SSgA) has appointed Helene Veltman as senior strategist in charge of solutions in its investment solutions unit, covering Europe, the Middle East and Africa, IPE.com reveals. She will be based in London, and will be responsible for Netherlands-based clients and prospects clients. Before joining SSgA, Veltman served at Axa Investment Managers as director of fiduciary management and liability-driven investment. She previously worked in risk management for equity derivatives and solutions for insurer clients and pension funds from Société Générale. She also worked at HSBC and Commerzbank.
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } ING Investment Management has recruited Massimo Corneo and Matteo La Tassa for its Italian sales team led by Simona Merzagora, Bluerating reports. Corneo, previously at BlackRock, has been appointed as director of distribution. La Tassa, who joins from Dexia AM, will be senior relationship manager & institutional business development.
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Luca De Biasi, fund of fund manager and head of multi-management at the Swiss bank BSI, an affiliate of the insurer Generali, will be leaving the firm to join the Italian affiliate of the consulting firm Mercer from 3 March, Citywire Global reports. At Mercer Italia, he will serve as head of investment consulting.
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Manulife Asset Management Singapore, the Singapore affiliate of Manulife AM, has launched a new Asian bond fund, whose asset allocation is oriented to investment grade bonds from the Asia-Pacific region, International Adviser reveals. The new vehicle, Manulife Asia Pacific Investment Grade Bond Fund, aims to maximise its returns by investing as a priority in a diversified portfolio of investment grade securities issued by governments, public or supra-national entities and corporate in this vast geographical region.
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The emerging market specialist Renaissance AM is preparing to launch an equity fund dedicated to the Nigerian market, Citywire reports. The strategy, which is awaiting the approval of the regulatory authorities, may be launched in spring. The fund would be one of the only ones in UCITS format to concentrate on the Nigerian market.
Laurent Misonne, freshly appointed as head of international sales at SEB Asset Management, explains the development strategy of the Scandinavian asset management firm, an affiliate of the eponymous bank, outside its domestic market. Germany, France and Italy are the high-priority markets.
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Schroders will dedicate resources to teams which will create algorithms to replace the information previously obtained from sell-side analysts, following the example of BlackRock and the hedge fund sector, Financial News reports. Schroders will recruit teams, and also rely on specialist firms. The teams will aim to interpret the mass of information now available online coming from social media, local and professional websites, corporate press releases, transcripts of conference calls, and statements to regulatory authorities.
Standard Life Investments has announced the appointment of Gerry Rocchi as a non-executive director to the board of Standard Life Investments (Holdings) Limited. The appointment is effective from 1st March 2014.Gerry Rocchi is currently CEO of Green Power Action Inc., an environmental finance firm based in Toronto that manages Canada’s first carbon-offset credit fund. Since leaving Barclays Global Investors Canada in 2005, where he was CEO from 1997 to 2004 and thereafter led several strategic initiatives for the iShares global business line, Gerry has had a number of industry and regulatory roles. These include directorship, and chair of the board, of the Investment Industry Regulatory Association of Canada (IIROC), and directorship, and chair of the Finance and Audit Committee of Market Regulation Services, a predecessor of IIROC.
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Arthur Caye, a partner at the private bank Lombard Odier, will be leaving the firm on 1st May, Le Temps has announced in its 28 February issue. He will be returning to his former employer Capital Group. The newspaper cites an internal memo which explains that “this decision was dictated by a desire to refocus fully on its original passion: investment, more precisely research and portfolio management.” Caye had been a partner at Lombard Odier for two years. “This is a life choise, due to my professional career spent largely at Capital”, says Caye, cited by the newspaper. He adds that he will remain “personally close” to Lombard odier and “fully confident in its future.” After his departure, there will be eight partners at Lombard Odier, as Hugo Bänziger will join on 1 April.
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The Financial Conduct Authority is investigating the US parent company of the British Invesco Perpetual group about compliance with regulations between May 2008 and November 2012, Investment Week reports. The information was revealed by Invesco in its 2013 annual report.
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Artino Janssen, executive vice president, co-head of Investment Solutions & Research and CIO Global Allocation, is leaving Robeco, according to fondsnieuws. Janssen, who had been responsible for the management of about EUR20bn, will be replaced by Lukas Daalder, who since November 2011 had been manager of a senior portfolio on the Global Allocation team.
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The South African Old Mutual group has reported growth in its assets under management of 19% in 2013, to about GBP294bn, according to provisional estimaes released on 28 February. Net inflows totalled GBP15.5bn groupwide, of which more than GBP10bn were in the United States, where 2012 ended with outflows of GBP200m. Inflows to emerging markets totalled GBP1.6bn (including GBP1bn for South Africa) compared with GBP1.2bn the previous year. The British platform drew GBP2.4bn, compared with GBP2.2bn the previous year. Adjusted operating profits totalled GBP1.6bn, up 15% at constant rates, and stabled expressed in pounds. In this context, the group states that it has progressed in achieving its strategic objectives. In addition to simplifying structures, Old Mutual is continuing with its plans to become the top financial services provider in Africa, with acquisition in the east and west of the continent from regional centres in Lagos and Nairobi. The group is also planning to float a minority stake in its US activitie (USAM, US Asset Management) on the stock exchange, depending on market conditions.
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Assets under management at the sustainable development specialist Triodos Investment Management last year rose 15% to a total of EUR2.5bn, according to a statement released on 28 February. Assets in the Triodos Fair Share and Triodos Microfinance funds posted gains of 32% to EUR202.3m and 33% to EUR164.4m, respectively. After absorption of the investment portfolio from BNP Paribas Groen Fonds, assets under management at Triodos Green Fund last year rose 31%, to EUR656m.
L’activité dans le secteur manufacturier en France a ralenti nettement moins qu’indiqué initialement en février et entrevoit même une stabilisation après deux années de contraction, selon les résultats définitifs de l’enquête PMI publiés lundi par Markit. L’indice global du secteur est ressorti à 49,7, son plus haut niveau depuis cinq mois, pour revenir juste sous la barre des 50 qui sépare contraction et croissance de l’activité. Il avait été annoncé en première estimation flash à 48,5, en retrait par rapport à son niveau de janvier (49,3).
Quelque 76.900 crédits hypothécaires ont été octroyés en janvier au Royaume-Uni, une hausse de 42% sur un an. Il s’agit du niveau le plus élevé depuis fin 2007, même si ce nombre reste en-deçà des chiffres observés durant la période 1995-2007, où la moyenne mensuelle atteignait les 100.000 crédits accordés, rappellent les économistes de Citigroup. Le taux moyen des nouveaux crédits immobiliers a encore reculé de 5 points de base le mois dernier à 3,01%, portant la baisse à 52 pb en un an.
L’escalade politique et militaire en Ukraine, où la Crimée est passée sous le contrôle de la Russie, fait reculer lundi matin l’ensemble des classes d’actifs à risques. Les indices CAC 40 et Euro Stoxx 50 abandonnent plus de 2% vers midi. Sur le marchés des changes, le yen et le franc suisse, monnaies refuges, s’inscrivent en hausse. L’or bénéficie également de ce regain d’aversion pour le risque, de même que les emprunts d’Etat allemands (-7 pb, à 1,55%) ou français (-6 pb à 2,14%)
Le déficit budgétaire de l’Italie a atteint 3% du produit intérieur brut (PIB) l’an dernier, soit précisément la limite fixée par l’Union européenne, pour la deuxième année consécutive, montrent les statistiques officielles publiées lundi. La troisième économie de la zone euro s’est contractée de 1,9% en 2013, un peu plus que prévu par le gouvernement (-1,8%) après une contraction de 2,4% en 2012. La dette publique italienne a inscrit un nouveau record à 132,6% du PIB en 2013, précise l’institut national de la statistique Istat, après 127,0% en 2012.
«Nous observons actuellement une inflation basse et si cela se prolonge pendant une période étendue, cela pourrait potentiellement ‘désancrer’ les anticipations des consommateurs sur l'évolution à long terme de l’inflation», a expliqué Christine Lagarde, directrice générale du FMI, lors d’une conférence à Bilbao, en Espagne. «Nous disons que le risque potentiel existe. Nous l'évaluons à 15-20%, et c’est la raison pour laquelle nous recommandons que les banquiers centraux soient vigilants et gardent à leur disposition les outils de politique monétaire susceptibles de répondre à cette situation», a-t-elle ajouté.
La banque privée se retrouve avec un excédent de capital de 150 à 250 millions de francs suisses, a indiqué son directeur général Boris Collardi à Bloomberg TV. Un excédent lié a une levée plus importante que nécessaire pour le rachat des activités de banque privée non américaines de BoA Merrill Lynch.
«C’est ce vers quoi les choses sont en train de converger», déclare Jean-Marc Ayrault dans le Parisien dimanche à propos d’un maintien du crédit d’impôt compétitivité emploi (Cice). Le Premier ministre rappelle que les premiers chèques au titre du Cice seront envoyés en mai et souhaite que l’usage de ces sommes soit discuté dans les sociétés, par exemple en comité d’entreprise.