Throughout the coronavirus crisis, Funds Europe presents some of the best market commentary from fund professionals. Today, Mark Asquith, a senior emerging market manager at Somerset Capital Management, says now could be a very attractive entry point for emerging market investing.
UK savers invested a total of £1.4 billion (€1.6 billion) in retail funds throughout February – with mixed asset funds being the best-selling asset class.
European equities posted their worst quarterly performance in the first quarter of this year since 2002, according to data from S&P Dow Jones Indices.
US equity losses almost caught up with those in Europe, falling by 31% in the month to March 23rd, according to Bfinance Research.
London-headquartered RWC Partners has recruited Nick Clay to lead a new global equity income team.
Assets in regulated open-ended fund assets worldwide increased 3.1% to €52.7 trillion in the fourth quarter of 2019, according to figures published by the European Fund and Asset Management Association (Efama).
Long-term mutual funds in Europe in February saw net inflows of €22.6 billion, with bond funds – which saw net inflows of €30.4 billion – the best-selling individual asset type.
Amidst ongoing volatility sparked by the Covid-19 outbreak, a report has claimed that active equity managers have “significantly” outperformed broad markets during downturns over the last 25 years.
Greater participation by defined contribution (DC) pension schemes in private markets is important as public equities reduce in number – but their involvement is also restricted by the regulatory focus on fees, according to investment professionals.
Luxembourg’s alternatives business is flourishing. But for reasons beyond the Grand Duchy’s control, European investors may not be benefiting from the broader global growth in these assets, says Nick Fitzpatrick.
