Investment
Benchmark overhaul brings substantial improvement, says Lenny Feder
In the aftermath of the Libor scandal, Singapore’s financial industry has opted to overhaul its existing benchmarks to focus on transaction data
Return of currency trends a boon for macro managers, says Insight Investment
The strong currency trends in 2013 have been good news for the asset manager, which uses strategies aiming to generate alpha from currency positions
Reyker adds James Chu and looks to expand retail structured product offerings
Former managing director of Incapital Europe, James Chu, has joined bespoke financial service provider Reyker Securities to head its latest structured product distribution initiative
IPM sees buy-side differentiation through early adoption of e-FX
Fredrik Wingren, head of trading at Informed Portfolio Management in Stockholm believes being an early adopter of new technology gives the firm added clout in helping develop products in conjunction with the sell side
Currency managers divided on net foreign assets as an indicator
Net foreign assets have a greater role to play in weighing up currency strength, says Stratton Street portfolio manager - but others disagree
Newscape Capital launches quant FX fund
London-based Newscape believes investors have too much focus on fixed income and equities and should have more capital committed to the FX market
Record spots dislocation in covered interest rate parity
Record Currency Management is looking to help its clients profit from a dislocation in the covered interest rate parity between several currencies
HSBC launches algo carry index
The Global FX Carry Index, launched by HSBC yesterday, considers 32 currencies for investment, including G-10 and emerging markets
Insight Investment to acquire currency manager Pareto
Pareto Investment Management will become part of the Insight group from January 2013
ANZ launches China-centric commodity index
Australian bank unveils commodity index in bid to better reflect China market influence
FTSE Cürex FX indexes will help transparency, participants say
FTSE and Cürex enter FX index space – and market participants say the indexes will help improve transparency in the foreign exchange markets
Wealthy Greeks turn to offshore securities to escape redenomination risk
The massive drop in deposits held in domestic banks in Greece is partly attributable to transfers of savings into overseas accounts or securities to mitigate fears of a Greek eurozone exit and a return to the drachma
Emerging market central banks drive gold demand with reserve diversification
Mexico leads the way in reserve diversification in the first quarter
Europe’s institutional investors look to alternatives and cost-effective exposure
Institutional investors in Europe favour fixed-income and alternative assets as they continue de-risking their portfolios, with a focus on cost-effective market exposure and downside protection
Eurozone crisis is a 'bomb about to explode', says Neil Record
The founder and chairman of Record Currency Management believes the euro has been mortally wounded and will struggle to survive in its current form
Spotlight on: Neil Record, Record Currency Management
The founder and chair of Record Currency Management talks to Robert Mackenzie Smith about the growth of the firm over the past three decades, as well as the challenges posed by the financial crisis and his shortlisted entry for the Wolfson Economics Prize
Macquarie to offer bespoke beta and absolute return commodity products from June
Macquarie is extending its existing commodity sales and trading platform with the launch of a commodity investor products business, which will be led by ex-Goldman Sachs global head of commodities
Absa Capital unveils five ETNs based on precious metals and currencies
Absa Capital has launched five exchange-traded notes, providing investors with exposure to precious metals and currencies.
Spotlight on: Carl James, BNP Paribas Investment Partners
The head of fixed income and foreign exchange dealing talks to Chiara Albanese about the challenges for the buy side that arise from new regulation, as well as the potential value that can be gleaned from algorithmic execution and transaction cost…
LTRO has jump-started currency investors out of risk aversion, says Pimco
Currency investors appear to have moved away from risk aversion and become more interested in high-yielding EM currencies as a result of the ECB’s refinancing operation, according to Pimco’s head of FX
FX markets driven excessively by 'headline noise', says Aviva’s currency chief
Volatility in foreign exchange markets has been driven increasingly by a desire to re-price on the back of every headline, says Pierre Lequeux, head of currency management at Aviva Investors
Spotlight on: Collin Crownover, SSgA
State Street Global Advisors’ head of currency management talks to Joel Clark about investor appetite for G-10 and emerging market currencies, and how his global team has managed the volatility and political uncertainty that has characterised the foreign…
Private investor demand for FX on the rise, say managers
Volatility in major currency pairs and concerns over the US dollar have led to an up-tick in demand for FX exposure from high-net-worth individuals, according to several currency managers
FX Invest Middle East: Volatility is tough and unsustainable, say managers
Delegates at FX Invest conference in Dubai discuss Japanese intervention, the value of emerging market currencies and their outlook on volatility