Blackrock backs calls for convergence of investment reporting standards October 29, 2020 Blackrock, the world’s biggest asset manager, has called for a clear set of reporting standards for sustainable investments to tackle a ‘lack of clarity’. There has been a significant uptick in interest in sustainable investments in recent years. Figures from the Investment Association showed what it termed responsible investment funds under management in the UK [...]
Government issues sustainable finance standards for fund managers October 28, 2020 The UK has issued a set of standards for asset managers within the sustainable investment sector as it shores up its green credentials. Interest in environmental, social and governance-related investing has taken centre stage in recent years. Inflows into active ESG funds reached a record £392m in September, taking the quarterly total to £1bn, according [...]
St James’s Place net inflows slow amid ‘challenging’ environment October 27, 2020 Wealth manager St James’s Place (STJ) has recorded a rise in funds under management even as the pace of inflows slowed in the third quarter. As at 30 September, total funds under management increased to £118.7bn compared with £112.82bn in 2019. St James’s Place reported net inflows of £1.33bn in three months ended 30 September, [...]
Charles Stanley revenues drop amid ‘difficult times’ October 15, 2020 Investment management firm Charles Stanley (CAY) saw revenue drop in the second quarter while funds under management and administration edged higher. Group revenue fell 6.8 per cent to £39.9m in the second quarter, resulting in a 4.1 per cent reduction over the first half to £82m. Total funds under Management and Administration (Fuma) rose 12.9 [...]
Ashmore assets rise as market recovery offsets outflows October 14, 2020 Ashmore’s assets under management rose by nearly $2bn in the first quarter as a recovery in the markets helped to offset net outflows. The money manager, which focuses on emerging markets, said assets under management (AUM) increased by $1.9bn in the period to 30 September, offsetting net outflows of $0.8bn. AUM were estimated at $85.5bn [...]
Regulator fines ARCM for breaches of short-selling rules October 14, 2020 The City regulator has handed its first fine for breaches of short-selling rules to activist hedge fund Asia Research and Capital Management. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) today announced it had fined ACRM £873,118 over failing to publicly disclose its net short position in Premier Oil built between February 2017 and July 2019. Short selling [...]
City to shift €150bn of UK assets into France ahead of Brexit October 13, 2020 Firms have begun shifting around €150bn (€135bn) of UK assets from the City into France ahead of the Brexit transition period deadline, according to the governor of the Bank of France. Francois Villeroy de Galhau told the Europlace International Financial Forum that the Bank of France has authorised asset shifts by 32 companies — mostly [...]
The City View: Beyoncé’s former manager on why classic hits are a hot asset class August 18, 2020 Subscribe to The City View Podcast: Apple / Google / Spotify / RSS In this episode Christian talks to music industry veteran Merck Mercuriadis, a former manager of acts including Elton John and Beyoncé whose FTSE-listed investment firm has just hit a £1bn market cap after snapping up the rights to hits including Livin’ on a Prayer, Back to Black, Uptown Funk, Single Ladies and Don’t Stop Believing. [...]
M&G tables £191m bid in UK Mortgages hostile takeover August 13, 2020 M&G today said it has tabled a bid of roughly £191m for UK Mortgages Limited, marking its final offer in a hostile takeover effort. The asset manager, which is acting on behalf of its M&G Specialty Finance Fund, said it has ramped up its offer by 3p to 70p per share — an increase of [...]
M&G profit crashes as retail investors pull funds August 12, 2020 M&G today posted a sharp fall in first-half profit after retail investors rushed to withdraw funds during the coronavirus crisis and it counted the costs of its demerger. The insurer and asset manager saw its adjusted pre-tax profit slump 59 per cent to £309m in the six months to the end of June, though this [...]