Old Mutual Global Investors’ decision to outsource management of one its funds to a Hong Kong subsidiary of a Chinese banking giant is a “pragmatic” move that could free up the in-house Asian equities team to focus on their core funds.
Asset managers are increasingly repurposing underperforming funds into ESG products to jump on the sustainable investing trend, but an announcement this week from Franklin Templeton Investments has taken the process to new heights as it repositions a global equities fund into a thematic climate change product.
The board of the £313.3m Blackrock Frontiers Investment Trust has called a general meeting for shareholders to vote on expanding the fund’s investible universe to emerging markets following a spate of country reclassifications in MSCI indices.
Strong gains in US equity markets over the past year have encouraged investors to target the asset class in 2018, but while most prefer large cap funds it’s the small caps that have generated the better returns.
EdenTree fund manager Sue Round has blamed “savage downgrades” among fund holdings for recent fourth quartile performance, including Provident Financial, which she argues does hold a place in an ethical portfolio.
Chris St. John, Lead Manager of the AXA Framlington UK Mid Cap Fund and the AXA World Funds – Framlington UK, talks about the prospects for the UK equities market.
Donald Trump’s announcement that the US will introduce import duties on steel and aluminium is being described as a how-to move on triggering a stock sell-off, with industry-heavy funds and indices set to suffer from the protectionist move.
In what was a dismal month for markets generally, the UK and European equities were the pits, making up the five worst performing Investment Association sectors for February. But have the asset classes lost their lustre?
The consensus forecast of no clear winner in this weekend’s Italian election coming true is the best short-term scenario for financial markets and the economy, according to industry experts.
Jupiter Merlin has shaken up its allocation to emerging markets in its Growth and Worldwide Portfolios, opening a position in the Invesco Perpetual Asian fund, managed by William Lam.
After more than three decades as a stockbroker, James Baker, manager of Chelverton UK Equity Growth, has spent the past four years in fund management, bringing a wealth of experience to his stockpicking process.
European-domiciled emerging market (EM) funds have seen a spectacular turnaround in fortunes since the start of 2018, with inflows up €14.5bn (£12.8bn) during January to reach €11.4bn of assets under management, according to Morningstar data.
