With both bond and equity markets facing major challenges, investors are increasingly seeking out strategies that are not tied so tightly to the performance of the broader equity and fixed income markets. Neuberger Berman’s Fred Ingham tells Professional Pensions a growing number of investors are looking towards hedge funds as a solution – though concerns about there structure remain. Continue reading “Will investors allocate more to hedge funds?”

Investment consultant Redington has signalled its intent to build its defined contribution business and plug into what is set to be a fast-growing area of the UK’s pensions market by hiring its first dedicated head of defined contribution, reports Financial News. Continue reading “Redington recruits first DC head”

Jeremy Lang, manager of the Ardevora UK Income fund, reveals to What Investment the reasons behind his decision to shun all of the UK banks and bet on the Tesco share price falling. 

Continue reading “Why I am betting on the Tesco share price falling and won’t invest in any UK bank, by star UK income fund manager”

Fewer than a quarter of institutional investors think gender diversity in the boardroom is important, according to a survey from Hermes published this week. CNBC reports the survey of 109 institutional investors from the UK and Europe found only 23% of those questioned thought a board with a good mix of men and women was important. Continue reading “Very few investors think about gender diversity: report”

Despite a series of high-profile campaigns to appoint more female directors, institutional investors do not match their words with action. The Telegraph reports on the new Hermes survey of more than 100 UK and European institutions, which shows just 23% of decision-makers believe gender diversity at board level is important.

Continue reading “Investors must do more to help women smash the glass ceiling, says Hermes”

With regulators pursuing a reform agenda that is damaging the fund management industry and particularly boutique asset managers, Redington’s Pete Drewienkiewicz tells the Financial Times why preventing the development of small and mid-sized players may force institutional investors to concentrate their assets into a small number of large portfolio managers. Continue reading “Regulatory cost stifles fund boutiques”

As the MiFID implementation deadline approaches, Winterflood Business Services’ Alex Kerry explains what investors need to be aware of. Continue reading “Best execution: Staying ahead of the MiFID curve”

Bondholders should not be overly concerned by the high level of M&A activity being seen across Europe at the moment, according to the manager of the T. Rowe Price European High Yield Bond Fund. Mike Della Vedova notes that while the situation has some similarity to the high M&A levels seen before the 2008 crisis, it is not necessarily directly comparable. Continue reading “Bondholders don’t need to fear European M&A boom – T.Rowe Price”

As the financial services sector continues to recover, Investment Week canvasses leading fund managers on which companies are standing out. According to Argonaut’s Olly Russ, Intesa Sanpaolo’s top-line growth story is much more attractive than the market is factoring in – and the bank will offer significant surprise relative to expectations on profits and dividends over the next few years. Continue reading “Which financial stocks offer the best potential?”

Despite a high-profile government campaign and evidence showing mixed boards perform better, more than three-quarters of fund managers do not care whether the companies they invest in have any women directors, a recent Hermes survey has found. The report, Responsible Capitalism and Diversity, exposes disappointing and entrenched underlying attitudes in the corporate world.  Continue reading “Most fund managers not bothered about women on boards, survey finds”