The yield curve explained: is it predicting recession? February 6, 2019 | City Talk The yield curve has been a reliable predictor of US recessions over the last four decades. Each time the yield curve has inverted, the US economy has entered a downturn within 18 months. At the start of 2019, the curve is precipitously close to inverting again. The yield curve is the difference between the interest [...]
FCA fines former Newton fund manager Paul Stephany for IPO misconduct February 5, 2019 Former fund manager Paul Stephany has been fined by the UK’s financial watchdog for misconduct related to On the Beach’s initial public offering (IPO) in 2015. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has fined Stephany, a former employee of Newton Investment Management, £32,200 after it was found that he had contacted rival fund managers to influence [...]
Janus Henderson Group’s assets under management fall in volatile market February 5, 2019 Assets under management (AUM) at Janus Henderson Group plummeted $50bn (£38.43bn) last quarter amid volatile markets. The company, which was formed through the 2017 merger of Henderson Group and Janus Capital Group, saw AUM fall 13 per cent from $378.1bn to $328.5bn in the three months to the end of December. Read more: Blackrock assets [...]
Despite 2018’s woes, could the year of the pig be a sign of good fortune for Chinese equities? February 5, 2019 Chinese stock markets were dogged with problems last year – pretty fitting given that it was the year of the dog. The country grappled with slower growth, a mountain of debt, and a trade war with the US, creating a tough environment for Chinese equities. The MSCI China index slumped by 14 per cent in [...]
Asset management firms face overhaul of fund disclosure after FCA publishes market study February 4, 2019 Asset management firms must provide greater clarity for investors to make more informed decisions, the UK’s financial regulator has said. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said today that managers must make fund objectives and investment policy descriptions more useful to investors, and explain how and why funds use particular benchmarks. Read more: A quarter of high [...]
Investor groups back Shaftesbury board ahead of shareholder showdown February 3, 2019 West End landlord Shaftesbury has secured the support of two major investor groups as it braces for a showdown with shareholder Sammy Tak Lee at its annual general meeting this week. Hong Kong billionaire Lee, who owns 26 per cent of the property group, last week called on investors to vote against three resolutions allowing [...]
London listings in slowest start since 2010 as Brexit worries dampen market January 30, 2019 London’s IPO market has got off to its slowest start since the financial crisis this year as the looming Brexit date dents investor confidence. London Stock Exchange (LSE) data, shows that in the year to 29 January just £680,000 has been raised in London initial public offerings (IPOs). By 29 January 2018 £40m had been [...]
JP Morgan Asset Management given green light to sell funds in China January 29, 2019 JP Morgan Asset Management (JPMAM) has had two funds approved for sale in China. The funds – the Asia Equity Dividend Fund and the Global Bond Fund – will be distributed through JPMAM’s joint venture partner China International Fund Management after the China Securities Regulatory Committee gave the US company the green light. The funds [...]
MJ Hudson launches Milan office to strengthen EU business January 29, 2019 MJ Hudson has opened an office in Milan as the asset management consultancy strengthens its European presence and targets further expansion. The firm launched a fund management solutions team in Luxembourg in 2017 to act as a gateway to Europe after the UK leaves the EU in March this year. Read more: 60 per cent of asset [...]
Changing industry, changing skill-set January 25, 2019 | City Talk In the 1990s, the skill-set required by asset management professionals was vastly different. The investment universe consisted primarily of equities and bonds. Alternative asset classes like hedge funds and private equity were accessible only to high net worth individuals and some particularly sophisticated pension funds. Balanced managers were hired to outperform benchmarks, not produce outcomes. [...]