Monday morning briefing – February 11, 2019
A look at long/short equity hedge funds during the fourth quarter of 2018. Preparing your employees for the age of digital disruption. The impact of regulation on fintech. Will we see a shift back to active management? And much more in this week’s briefing.
Economic/industry news
International Economic Data Snapshot – includes aggregated data of the worldwide economy: Snapshot: International economic data
The Canadian unemployment rate rose to 5.8% in January: Canadian job market surges on record private-sector hiring
European GDP expanded 0.2% in the fourth quarter: EU’s GDP growth rate slows down to 1.5 pct in Q4 2018
BoE holds its Bank Rate steady at 0.75%: Bank of England leaves policy rate unchanged at 0.75% as expected
The RBI cut its benchmark interest rate: Five key takeaways from India’s new central banker’s maiden policy review
Global net flows into investment funds were $606 billion in 2018: Global fund flows had worst year since 2011: Morningstar
Here are some ESG trends for 2019: Emerging MSCI ESG trends to watch in 2019
The three categories of ESG investments: 3 ESG investment strategies: passive, integrated and active
The green bond market is set to grow in 2019: Global “green bond” issuance set to surge in 2019
Clients showing more interest in sustainable investing: How sustainability is becoming an industry focus
Will we see a shift back to active management?: Is the index bubble about to burst?
Some wealth management trends for 2019 that you need to know: 10 wealth management trends in 2019: Aite
Operating margins falling despite higher assets: Asset growth no longer equals fatter profits for fund managers
News and notes (U.S.)
Bill Gross announces his retirement: Bill Gross retires after storied four-decade career in bonds
Hedge funds with a poor December rebounded in January: December’s strugglers bounced back in January, says Lyxor
A look at long/short equity hedge funds during the fourth quarter of 2018: Fourth quarter 2018 review of the long/short equity hedge fund space
Carlyle Group had a sharp increase in pre-tax distributable earnings: Carlyle outperforms rivals in latest earnings report
U.S. retail investors out of the stock market: Mom and pop sit out rally, with stock exposure at 6-year low
Fidelity launches two model portfolios that will use ETFs: Fidelity debuts its first Model Portfolios that employ ETFs
Ark launches the ARK Fintech Innovation ETF: ARK rolls out fintech ETF
Institutional plans in the U.S. struggled in 2018: ‘Worst calendar year performance’ for U.S. institutional plans since 2008: report
Looking to improve U.S. retirement savings: Rep. Kind to reintroduce Retirement Savings Act
BB&T to purchase SunTrust Banks: BB&T to buy SunTrust in biggest bank merger in a decade
News and notes (Canada)
Canadian ETF assets fell 3.9% in the fourth quarter: Q4 asset drop couldn’t stop Canadian ETF boom
The S&P/TSX Composite Index could be a strong relative performer in 2019: It’s time to stop ignoring the TSX
Institutional portfolios benefited from the strong performance of Canadian real estate in 2018: Canadian real estate boosted institutional portfolios in 2018
Know Your Client shouldn’t be the same for all clients: MFDA warns against one-size-fits-all approach to KYC
IGM Financial invests more money into fintech firm: Personal Capital raises $50 million in new funding
Vanguard adds two more asset allocation portfolios to its lineup: Vanguard launches two asset allocation ETFs
A rough equity market in the fourth quarter hurt Canadian defined-benefit pension plans: Canadian DB pensions finish 2018 in negative territory: reports
On the pulse – New frontiers in fintech
The impact of regulation on fintech: Fintech innovation – is regulation a significant barrier?
How fintech will help the unbanked and underbanked in 2019: How will fintech offer disruption to financial services in 2019?
Canada is behind in its potential to adopt open banking: Canada lags in readiness for ‘open banking’
How AI can help perform testing in your digital initiatives: Artificial intelligence in testing: Top five use cases in financial services in 2019
Fintech’s impact on the future of wealth: Wealth is the next big fintech game changer
Fintechs aren’t providing the necessary help to millennials: How fintech companies are failing to help millennials with financial security
How to access the mobile ad market: How financial marketers can tap the surging mobile ad market
A look at why companies should consider a digital transformation: Why digital transformation? Challenge vs opportunity
Preparing your employees for the age of digital disruption: Learning and development in the digital age
A look at why bank branches shouldn’t be closed down: Why banks should stop closing branches
Automating trade data: A smarter way to report on financial trades?
Goldman Sachs and HSBC invest in tech start-up: Goldman Sachs and HSBC invest $20m in startup trying to make banks more like Apple
Barclays makes investment into fintech start-up: Barclays invests in payment-linked loyalty startup Bink
Scotiabank to launch fintech lab in Mexico: Scotiabank partners with Mexican university to open fintech accelerator
Trade groups team up to push digital assets and blockchain forward: Blockchain associations form new lobby group
High-net-worth topics
A look at family offices and their potential future: Multi-single-family offices are the future of UHNW families
Here a few mistakes the high-net-worth make: 10 big financial mistakes wealthy families make
A look at how the ultra wealthy are currently investing: Tiger 21 annual conference: CNBC interview with Tiger 21 founder Michael Sonnenfeldt on how the ultra-wealthy invest
Polls & surveys – What financials are saying
Asset managers see steady growth over the next seven years (Bloomberg): 5 asset management predictions for the next 7 years
The Canadian housing market and consumption could slow in 2019 (PIMCO): Downside risks for Canadian economy: PIMCO
Looking after a family member in cognitive decline has significant impact on family finances (RBC): The impact of cognitive decline on families’ finances: RBC survey