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: «Droid Sans Fallback"; font-size: 12pt; }P.ctl { font-family: «FreeSans"; font-size: 12pt; }A:link { } Lyxor Asset Management has announced the appointment of Matthieu Mouly as director of ETF strategy, and recruitments for its sales team dedicated to ETFs in France. Mouly had previously been head of ETF sales for French-speaking countries, since 2010. He now becomes responsible for distribution, marketing and product development for the ETF industry and tracker funds. He is a member of the board of directors at Lyxor ETF, alongsite Arnaud Llinas, Clarisse Djabbari, deputy director, and Raphael Dieterlen, director of ETF and index-based management.Alongside the promotion, Lyxor Asset Management is also recruiting for its sales team dedicated to ETFs. Damien Cardillon is appointed as institutional salesman for ETFs. He will serve France and Monaco. He joined Société Générale in 2007 as an equity salesperson, and contributed to the success of the team servng French institutional clients.

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: «Droid Sans Fallback"; font-size: 12pt; }P.ctl { font-family: «FreeSans"; font-size: 12pt; }A:link { } As of the end of the first quarter of the 2013-2014 fiscal year, ending on 30 June 2013, assets under management by Legg Mason Inc totalled USD644.5bn (see Newsmanagers of 15 July), for a decline of USD9.3bn compared with the end of May, and of USD20.1bn compared with the end of March.The contraction observed in April-June is due to both negative performance and currency effects of USD11.6bn, as well as to net outflows of USD8.7bn from liquidity products (which represent 20% of total assets), at a time when long-term assets posted net inflows of USD0.2bn. Compared with 30 June 2012 (USD631.8bn), assets under management are up 2%.The quarterly report also shows that Legg Mason in April-June earned net profits of USD47.8m, which represents an increase of 64% compared with USD29.2bn in January-March. In the corresponding period of 2012, the firm lost USD9.5m.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:link { } The Austrian firm Erste Asset Management has announced that it has signed the Investor Statement on Bangladesh dated 16 May 2013, promoted by the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, which aims to require heads in the textile industry sector to promote better practices in terms of labour rights and safety for their employees.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:link { } GenCap Ventures, which acquired FactorShares last year, has filed an application with the SEC to launch actively-managed ETFs, and hopes to receive a license to launch such a product of Mongolian equities in the near future, IndexUniverse reports.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:link { } GenCap Ventures, which acquired FactorShares last year, has filed an application with the SEC to launch actively-managed ETFs, and hopes to receive a license to launch such a product of Mongolian equities in the near future, IndexUniverse reports.

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: «Droid Sans Fallback"; font-size: 12pt; }P.ctl { font-family: «FreeSans"; font-size: 12pt; }A:link { } CPR AM has announced the launch of CPR Global Return Bond, a flexible fund of international bonds, aimed at all types of investors (institutional, corporate and wealth management). It is a transformation of the FCP fund CPR World Capi as of 1 July 2013. “We think the bond market has entered a new phase, which will eventually certainly bring interest rate increases. Although short-term rates appear to be at a coherent level to us, long-term rates are far too low, and we estimate that they can be expected to reach about 4% in 2-3 years. Also, we have considered a type of approach which allows us to exploit the diversity of sources of returns in the international bond universe without being subject to risks related to rising interest rates,” says Eric Bertrand, deputy director of investments and director of fixed income and credit management at CPR AM. The management of the fund combined a “carry active” engine, which is based on a quantitative process that aims to select 85 positions from a large international universe (nominal interest rates, real interest rates, credit, currencies, inflation, arbitrage curves, geographical trades, etc.) which offer the best potential for returns. Then, the “classic discretionary” engine managed according to a traditional approach based on the fixed income management process at CPR AM select according to macroeconomic and financial scenarios by managers and strategists. Dynamic allocation between the two portions can vary significantly, according to the outlooks of managers, in order to prefer the “carry active” approach where possible (0% to 80% of the portfolio), or the “classic discretionary” approach (0% to 100% of the portfolio). CPR Global Return Bonds aims to outperform the JPM Government Bond Global Index hedged in euros over the long term. The maximal tracking error is 6% compared with its benchmark index. The actively-managed sensitivity range for fixed income can vary from -6 to +12. Characteristics Date of introduction of new management process: 01/07/2013 ISIN codes: I share class: FR0011486661 P share class: FR0010325605 Minimal initial subscription: I share class: one share – P share class: 0.001 of one share Subscription commissions: I share class: none – P share class: 3% Redemption commission: I share class / P share class – none Annual management fees: I share class: 0.80% including all taxes / P share class: 1.40% Performance commission: P and I share classes: 20% including all taxes, on performance exceeding the benchmark index, earned by the fund during the fiscal year, limited to 2% of assets including all taxes.

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: «Droid Sans Fallback"; font-size: 12pt; }P.ctl { font-family: «FreeSans"; font-size: 12pt; }A:link { } Ning Jing, manager of the BGF China fund, on 21 June left the asset management firm BlackRock. She had been manager of the fund for over five years, Asian Investor reports. Following the departure of the manager, the fund, which has USD1.27bn in asets, is currently managed by Andrew Swan, head of the Asian fundamental management team, and Emily Dong, co-manager of the BGF Asian Growth Leaders Fund. Asian Investor does not report where Ning has gone.

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: «Droid Sans Fallback"; font-size: 12pt; }P.ctl { font-family: «FreeSans"; font-size: 12pt; }A:link { } At the conclusion of the quarter ending on 30 June, the wealth management firm Books Macdonald has assets of GBP5.11bn under management, compared with GBP3.52bn as of 30 June 2012. Compared with the previous quarter, the increase in assets represents 2.8%. Since the beginning of the year, the increase is 45% (25.6% not including assets related to the acquisition of Spearpoint). Real estate activities, housed at Braemar Estates, have seen an increase in their assets under administration of nearly 20%, to GBP1.04bn, from GBP865m as of the end of second quarter 2012.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:link { } According to a survey undertaken by Baring Asset Management, two thirds (66%) of pension fund managers are currently concerned about the high level of volatility on the markets, and 22% of them are of the opinion that increases in volatility are becoming more of a concern than an opportunity.In addition, Barings has been able to determine that nearly two fifths (38%) of professionals surveyed are planning to ease the impact of volatility by moving their portfolio to multi-asset class products, while 19% of pension funds are already invested in funds of this type. Overall, 70% of pension funds are using multi-asset class strategies, which include a performance objective, a diversified growth allocation and a dynamic asset allocation. Only 65% of respondents said so in the November 2012 survey. Lastly, Barings reports that 46% (compared with 43%) of pension fund managers have increased their exposure to diversified growth funds. The survey also finds that pension funds tend to position themselves on emerging markets via multi-asset class vehicles: 14% use this means to expose themselves to emerging market equities, compared with 11% in the previous survey.

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: «Droid Sans Fallback"; font-size: 12pt; }P.ctl { font-family: «FreeSans"; font-size: 12pt; }A:link { } The alternative asset management firm SAC Capital Advisors is now subject to criminal charges, as the public prosecutor’s office accuses it of having been in on insider trading activities as “a magnet for market cheaters,” the Wall Street Journal reports.In a civil suit which was filed simultaneously, the government indicates that its objective is to recover all assets from the firm (those of Steve A. Cohen and employees of SAC), which it estimates at USD10bn, out of a total of USD14bn, according to sources familiar with the matter.The bold move comes as the prosecutor’s office has recently determined that it does not have sufficient evidence to personally indict Steve A. Cohen, the founder and CEO of SAC.US Attorney Preet Bharara states that the government has not frozen any assets, and declines to comment on the sum that the authorities are seeking to recuperate.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } After more than two months of investigation, the Spanish securities commission (CNMV) has nearly completed its reconstruction of orders issued on 23 May, when Bankia shares lost 51.4% of their value in trading volume of 49.4 million shares, five times its float. Cinco Días reports that, according to the chairwoman of the CNMV, Elvira Rodriguez, those at fault are foreign institutional investors “who will be punished as God commands.” The European Securities Markets Authority (ESMA) has also been notified.

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: «Droid Sans Fallback"; font-size: 12pt; }P.ctl { font-family: «FreeSans"; font-size: 12pt; }A:link { } Fundweb reports that JPMorgan Asset Management (JPMAM) has decided to liquidate eight Luxembourg subfunds as part of a major clean-up of its fund range. The products will be liquidated on 30 August, and shareholders have already been notified. The products are the Global Agriculture fund, Global Infrastructure Trends fund, Global Mining fund, Japan Small Cap fund, Pacific Technology fund, UK Equity fund, Japan Behavioural Finance Equity fund and JP Morgan Series II fund.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:link { } Fondsnieuws reports that the Netherlands-based asset management firm ING IM is releasing the Luxembourg-registered sub-fund ING (L) Renta Fund First Class Yield Opportunities (LU0922504583), managed by Ewout van Schaik, head of multi-asset strategies, and Roel Jansen, head of European investment grade credit, for sale.The two execs are responsible for asset allocation, with total freedom to invest in investment grade corporate bonds, high yield (worldwide) or emerging markets. The fund was launched on 9 July, and its assets total EUR35m.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The Luxembourg-based firm Alceda Fund Management, a specialist in fund administration (EUR5.4bn) on 24 July announced that with the US firm Afina Holdings of Philadelphia it has signed a strategic partnership to provide both sales of investment strategies from fund managers elsewhere in the world on the Latin American market in the form of UCITS funds, and to welcome interested Latin American fund managers onto the Alceda UCITS platform (AUP).As a part of the process, Afina will provide its assistance in the selection and construction of a secure investment vehicle, as well as in the entry to all major Latin American markets.Alceda says that several Latin American pension funds will potentially be interested in access to the UCITS fund market. The Chilean public pension fund has already invested more than 80% of its USD150bn in products which comply with the UCITS directive. Other pension funds have significant resources in the region, including in Peru, Colombia, Mexico and Brazil, where the proportion of local investments remains predominant.

Pour un montant non divulgué, TCMG Asset Management, filiale de la banque privée Notenstein (groupe Raiffeisen) a acquis une participation majoritaire dans Vescore Solutions, spécialistes de l’allocation d’actifs dynamique, et la performance absolue et des investissements alternatifs. Cette transaction permet à TCMG de poursuivre sa politique multi-boutiques et de profiter des implantations de Vescore pour alimenter sa croissance en Allemagne (au travers de Vescore Deutschland), en Suisse et à l’international.Un communiqué précise qu’au travers de sa stratégie multi-boutiques, TCMG AM s’efforce d’acquérir des participations dans des sociétés de gestion d’actifs aux solutions de placement novatrices et bénéficiant d’historiques de performance intéressants. L’objectif consiste à prendre part à la croissance et à la consolidation du marché de gestion d’actifs. Dans le cadre de cette stratégie, les différentes boutiques de gestion d’actifs conservent dans une large mesure leur propre marque et leur indépendance.

Le Financial Times avançait hier de sources proches que le fondateur de Thor Equities avait signé un accord avec une famille non identifiée du Moyen-Orient concernant l’acquisition pour 260 millions d’euros du 65-67, avenue des Champs-Elysées, un immeuble comprenant des commerces de détail, des bureaux et des logements.

L’opérateur boursier allemand a publié un bénéfice avant intérêt et impôts (Ebit) légèrement inférieur aux attentes au deuxième trimestre, à 256,3 millions d’euros, sous le coup de marchés difficiles ayant engendré un chiffre d’affaires en repli de 2% à 497,1 millions. Le plan de maîtrise des coûts annoncé en février se poursuit conformément aux prévisions.

La filiale de La Française dédiée à l’accompagnement des acteurs indépendants de la distribution d’épargne financière a dévoilé hier un premier partenariat capitalistique minoritaire, avec le Groupe Crystal. Un premier pas «particulièrement emblématique de nos ambitions», selon le directeur général de La Française, Patrick Rivière.

Le procureur de New York a engagé des poursuites pénales à l’encontre du gestionnaire alternatif fondé et dirigé par Steven Cohen

Le procureur de New York a engagé des poursuites pénales à l’encontre du gestionnaire alternatif fondé et dirigé par Steven Cohen. SAC Capital Advisors aurait mis en œuvre un système généralisé d’accès à des informations privilégiées lui permettant d’engranger des centaines de millions de dollars en profits illicites. Le gestionnaire risque la fermeture.

Elles redoutent l'isolement des activités de tenue de marché que pourrait imposer Bruxelles dans la lignée du rapport Liikanen

Le PIB a crû de 0,6% au cours des trois derniers mois, ce qui pourrait dissuader la Banque d'Angleterre de relancer les achats d'actifs

L’Agefi Quotidien Edition de 18h reprendra sa parution le 26 août

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the British financial market authority, which replaced the FSA at the beginning of April, has imposed a fine of GBP5.6m against the partially nationalised bank RBS, for failure to correctly and completely report more than one third of all trades made by it on the markets between November 2007 and February 2013 to the agency. In a 50-page document published yesterday, the market regulatory authority, which oversees 26,000 financial establishments in the United Kingdom, laid out its roadmap, in which it takes the opposing view of its predecessor which was criticized for failing to prevent the financial crisis. The identification of risks in hindsight will also guide the strategy of the regulator, which plans to toughen its policies with respect to persons or businesses which infract regulations, imposing heavy fines and legal actions. The FCA also plans to promote competition in the financial sector.

En Asie pacifique, 83 % des institutionnels et 88 % des investisseurs particuliers ne sont pas investi en ETF. C’est ce que révèle une enquête menée par Deutsche Asset & Wealth Management citée par Asian Investor.Sur un an la popularité des ETF est en chute libre. L’an dernier, seulement 36,6 % des institutionnels et 64,3 % des particuliers se tenaient à l'écart de ces produits. La raison de ce désamour est «le risque de contrepartie» pour les institutions et «des frais trop élevés» facturés par les brokers, pour les particuliers.

Vivian Chan, managing director et market leader Greater China chez Credit Suisse, où elle s’est notamment distinguée par la création d’un portefeuille de clientèle de particuliers très haut de gamme, rejoint son ancien patron Didier von Daeniken, head of wealth management for Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa chez Barclays. Elle prendra le 5 août ses nouvelles fonctions de regional head of North Asia dans la division wealth & investment management.

Dexia a annoncé mercredi 24 juillet l’arrêt des négociations avec GCS Capital portant sur la cession de Dexia Asset Management. Dexia avait signé le 12 décembre 2012 un accord de vente de Dexia AM avec GCS Capital prévoyant la finalisation de la transaction au plus tard à la fin juin 2013, pour un montant de 380 millions d’euros.N’ayant pas pu finaliser la cession fin juin comme prévu, Dexia a concédé de poursuivre les négociations au delà de la date d’échéance initiale.A l’issue de discussions avec GSC Capital, et dans le respect de ses obligations contractuelles, «Dexia a décidé de dénoncer l’accord de cession le 15 juillet 2013. L’accord de vente prévoyant un préavis de 10 jours ouvrés, la rupture des négociations sera effective le 30 juillet 2013", précise un communiqué. Jusqu’à cette date, l’acheteur dispose de la possibilité de remplir ses obligations contractuelles et de finaliser la cession, ajoute Dexia. Le communiqué souligne que cette décision «ne remet pas en cause la volonté de Dexia de céder Dexia Asset Management».

Le 22 juillet, le gestionnaire new-yorkais KraneShares, qui dispose d’un bureau à Pékin, a lancé le premier des sept fonds focalisés sur la Chine pour lesquels il avait sollicité un agrément de la SEC. Il s’agit du KraneShares CSI China Five Year Plan ETF (acronyme sur NYSE Arca : KFYP ; code Isin : US5007672075) qui investira en temps normal au moins 80 % dans les valeurs de l’indice CSI Overseas China Five-Year Plan Index des sociétés qui sont susceptibles de bénéficier le plus des plans quinquennaux de la Chine.Ce fonds est chargé à 0,68 %. Il est investi à 35 % dans les technologies de l’information, à 16 % dans les biens de consommation discrétionnaire, à 14 % dans des valeurs industrielles et à 14 % en sociétés de biens de consommation courante.Les deux lignes les plus lourdes sont Tencent Holdings (13,64 %) et Baidu Com (11,41 %).

Steve Dunlap a été recruté comme executive vice president, wealth management chez le broker-dealer Cetera Financial Group en remplacement de Barnaby Grist, qui quitte le groupe «pour s’occuper de sa famille» selon un communiqué. Le nouvel arrivant sera chargé de la poursuite du développement stratégique des services de gestion de fortune de Cetera, au service des conseillers désireux d’augmenter leur activité sur honoraires.Ces derniers temps, Steve Dunlap était à la fois president & CEO de Lockwoord Advisors, une filiale de distribution retail de BNY Mellon, et president of managed investments chez Pershing, une des boutiques de BNY Mellon.Dans ses nouvelles fonctions, Steve Dunlap sera subordonné directement à la CEO Valerie Brown.

Nina Tannenbaum, director of marketing & product management chez Napier Park Value Fund après avoir exercé des responsablités dans la division gestion alternative de Blackstone Group, a été recrutée par AllianceBernstein comme managing director of alternative sales & client services.Elle sera subordonnée à Joel R. Stevens II, senior managing director et head of institutional investments. Elle aura pour tâche de développer l’offre de gestion alternative d’AllianceBernstein, qui comprend des stratégies de multigestion, des hedge funds exclusifs et des «closed-end drawdown funds».D’autre part, Nina Tannenbaum sera chargée de répondre à la demande complexe de la clientèle pour intégrer des produits alternatifs dans leurs portefeuilles et leur profil de risque.