Bond products were the best-selling asset class in January, according to LSEG Lipper’s European Fund Flow report, writes Christian Mayes. The asset class pulled in a net €29.7bn in the month, while Money Market USD grouping was the best-selling Lipper Classification after receiving €11.2bn inflows. Providers of mutual funds pulled in €22.5bn, while passives saw net…
A quarter of all Article 8 funds could be accused of greenwashing based on their sustainability framework and practices, according to MainStreet Partners, writes Christian Mayes The 24% of funds classified as a greenwashing risk by the 2024 ESG Barometer report marks a four percentage point increase from the 20% flagged at the end of…
Sometimes the market is not just inefficient, it throws up opportunities that defy logic – and today, argues Jack Holmes, is such an occasion
Michael Nelson addresses the IEEFA’s findings on the European Green Bond Standard The European Green Bond Standard (EUGBS) promises to boost investor confidence and support the long-term growth of the green bond market despite some limitations, according to findings from the latest report from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA). The report…
Neuberger Berman has promoted Matt Malloy to head of EMEA, to replace Dik van Lomwel as he steps into the vice-chair EMEA position. Van Lomwel has served as chair since 2009, with assets under management for the EMEA business growing from $3bn (€2.7bn) to $64bn during his time. His new role will focus primarily on…
The European Central Bank opted to keep interest rates unchanged in an expected decision on Thursday. The rates will remain at 4.5% for main refinancing operations, 4.75% for the marginal lending facility and 4% for the deposit facility, where they have sat since September. In the monetary policy statement, the European Central Bank reiterated its…
Solid issuer fundamentals today and tighter bank regulations to come should combine to provide a credit tailwind High-quality preferred securities, primarily issued by investment-grade-rated companies, currently offer 7% to 9% yields – considerably greater than what is available from investment-grade corporate bonds. As Chart 1 shows below, yields on over-the-counter (OTC) and contingent capital (CoCo)…
Basic biology means energy, water and food remain the most important economic goods – and so significant themes for informed investors The energy-water-food ‘nexus’ is now widely recognised as a critical element in efforts to combat climate change. Crucially, the number of potential investment themes emerging from it is practically without limit, as are the…
MA Financial Media, the publisher of Portfolio Adviser, is excited to announce the rebadging of three of its specialist investor brands – ESG Clarity, Expert Investor and UK Adviser – as ‘PA’ publications. Leveraging the status of the business’s flagship brand, Portfolio Adviser, the changes are designed to create a more unified and holistic identity for the extensive range of websites,…
Despite the positive mood music from the organisers of this year’s climate change conference, Michael Nelson finds many commentators more cautious about heralding victory COP28 has concluded in Dubai with a new deal calling on all countries to “transition away” from using fossil fuels – the first time any such deal on fossil fuels has…
VBDO benchmark finds 34% lacked ‘proper ESG integration in tax matters’, writes Natasha Turner European companies are becoming ever-more responsible taxpayers, but a third still lack proper ESG integration on tax matters, this year’s Tax Transparency Benchmark has found. The benchmark, which has been published by the Association of Investors for Sustainable Development (VBDO) and PwC, this…
Robeco has launched an equities strategy with the intent to invest in, and engage with, companies across the fashion value chain, writes Michael Nelson. The Fashion Engagement Equities Strategy will invest in 30 to 40 publicly listed companies across the entire fashion value chain, including sourcing, production, consumption and end-of-life. The firm will particularly be…
