Reuters: Funds News

EU-backed infrastructure fund up for sale

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 10:33:54 GMT

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - The state financiers of France, Germany and Italy have been speaking to investors about the sale of their 250 million euro EU-supported Galaxy infrastructure fund, two people familiar with the matter said.

FSA recruits "panthers" to stalk banks

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 10:32:23 GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - The Financial Services Authority has appointed five senior "corporate panthers" to prowl the City of London and help it judge the competence of top banking executives and improve governance.

Allianz fund sees opportunities in energy squeeze

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 10:22:56 GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - The world faces a potential energy supply squeeze as economic growth rebounds, offering huge investment opportunities in the oil and gas industry and in other energy companies, a fund manager said on Thursday.

New Schroders fund to protect against rising rates

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 10:20:07 GMT

HONG KONG (Reuters) - A new fund by Schroders will invest in strong credits globally and will guard its assets against rising interest rates with derivatives such as interest-rate futures, a senior official said.

Investors brace to take on boards

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 10:17:15 GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - Large shareholders in Britain are bracing for rules urging more engagement with bank boards to be rolled out across all industries as calls mount for investors to shoulder more responsibility for how well companies are run.

Standard Life to launch European property recovery fund

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 10:14:26 GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - Standard Life Investments said on Thursday it is raising up to 75 million pounds by mid-December for a fund aimed at capturing the recovery in Europe's hard-hit commercial property market.

Hedge funds eye Asian growth as Bolton heads east

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 08:30:41 GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - Fidelity's Anthony Bolton is unlikely to be the last top UK investor to move to Asia as hedge funds eye up attractive investment opportunities and cash-rich clients hungry for absolute returns.

Investors to continue support for bond buybacks

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 12:17:24 GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - Leading corporate bond investors say support for buybacks is likely to continue as it lets them realise value and invest the proceeds elsewhere.

Aberdeen says search for yield in 2010

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 11:44:23 GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - Aberdeen Asset Managers is concerned about what it views is the fragility of the economic recovery, prompting caution heading into next year, with bonds and property the focus rather than continued sharp equity gains.

Credit Suisse triples stake in wealth firm

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 10:58:07 GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - Credit Suisse has more than tripled its stake in a Swiss wealth management firm, buying shares from a Qatari consortium that includes the state's ruling family, sources familiar with the deal said.

Stakeholders seek wider choice from pension fund

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 10:52:03 GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - A potential 150 billion pounds fund covering British workers without pensions from 2012 should invest in alternative assets like property and hedge funds, a consultation of future stakeholders showed on Wednesday.

Nelson Peltz cuts Cadbury stake

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 10:49:22 GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - Billionaire activist investor Nelson Peltz cut his stake in takeover target Cadbury Plc to 2.68 percent from 3.03 and said on Wednesday it was the result of adjustments his fund group made to its portfolio.

Fidelity's Bolton lured back to investing by China

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 08:09:32 GMT

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Fidelity International's Anthony Bolton, one of the UK's best known and top performing asset managers, said he plans to return to managing money next year, with a focus on the increasingly important China market.

Stanford sues Lloyd's of London for defence fees

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:42:12 GMT

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Allen Stanford, who faces U.S. criminal and civil charges for allegedly leading a $7 billion Ponzi scheme, is suing Lloyd's of London for defence costs.

Gold likely to extend its lead over sluggish oil

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:40:02 GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - Massive oversupply in the oil market has helped to snap the link between oil and gold that at this stage of tentative economic recovery could send both assets rising as inflation hedges, a strategist at a privately-held fund said.

JC Flowers in pursuit of UK bank assets

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:52:02 GMT

SYDNEY (Reuters) - U.S. private equity investor JC Flowers is circling Britain's weakened banking industry, prepared to swoop on forced divestments over the next 12 months, according to the firm's new European and Asia Pacific boss.

EU pressured to tighten new rules for hedge funds

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:47:22 GMT

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - An influential European parliamentarian is calling for borrowing caps on hedge funds in a report to lawmakers that could lead to a tough new regime for the secretive industry.

European property derivatives market growing

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:35:33 GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - Europe's property derivatives trade will likely rise to at least 1 billion pounds this quarter, and the next, as more investors seek to offset property market risks, a sector expert said on Tuesday.

Managed futures hedge funds hit by volatility

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:32:42 GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - Recent volatility in global stock markets has compounded problems for the managed futures hedge funds that did so well last year, and left them struggling while the rest of the industry prospers, Lipper data showed.

Hedge funds set for rebound to pre-crisis level

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:02:51 GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - Investment flows into hedge funds have turned net positive and the sector is heading towards having assets under management of around $1.75 trillion (1.06 trillion pounds) by year-end, according to Morgan Stanley.

Intermediate Capital says bad debts past worst

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:45:49 GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - British private equity lender Intermediate Capital Group Plc reported a return to profitability in the first half of the year and said its bad debts had peaked, pushing its shares higher.

Hedge funds boost stock exposure in Q3

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:41:03 GMT

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Hedge funds, in the third quarter, showed their greatest appetite for stock market risk in two years, according to research from Goldman Sachs on Monday.

Pension funds return to emerging markets

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:22:37 GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - UK pension schemes are showing a renewed interest in emerging markets equity after shunning emerging economies in the thick of the financial crisis, according to a report from Baring Asset Management.

EU executive to propose major markets law

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:44:28 GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - A major draft EU law on market infrastructure will be tabled next July to make share and derivatives trading less risky for investors and the broader financial system from late 2012, industry sources said on Monday.

Firms fail to take climate risk seriously

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:27:30 GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - British companies are failing to take the strategic implications of climate change seriously and are missing out on investment opportunities, a study sponsored by three major UK investors said on Monday.