monday-morning-briefing

Tuesday morning briefing – April 23, 2019

Hedge funds can’t ignore the widespread adoption of ESG principles. Family offices becoming the preferred model for high-net-worth advisors. How organizations can optimize their use of data. And much more in this week’s briefing.

Economic/industry news

The inflation rate in Canada rose to 1.9% in March: Inflation rises 1.9% on higher fresh vegetable prices, mortgage costs

China’s economy expanded 6.4%, annualized, in the first quarter: China’s economy had a steady start to 2019

Business sentiment is falling: BoC survey finds negative level of Canadian business sentiment

Institutional investors believe that equities are reaching their peak: More than half of institutional investors think equities peaking

Plan Sponsors are using less-conservative default investment options: How default investment funds are becoming smarter

The shift from the AUM pricing model: 5 truths about the pricing revolution in wealth management

What you need to know about a fund’s performance history: How important is a fund’s performance history?

News and notes (U.S.)

The Eurekahedge Hedge Fund Index rose 1.06% in March: Eurekahedge Hedge Fund Index up 1.06 per cent in March

Hedge funds off to a strong start in 2019: Hedge funds had their best first quarter in 13 years to start 2019

Hedge funds can’t ignore the widespread adoption of ESG principles: Hedge funds ponder the ethics of shorting unethical companies

Secondary buyout deals growing: The median size of US secondary buyouts has nearly doubled since 2015

VCs showing interest in the “mystical services market”: Why are venture capitalists pouring billions into astrology?

Mutual fund sales and performance over the past two weeks: Mutual funds scorecard: April 16 edition

Will New Jersey institute a fiduciary rule for financial advisors?: New Jersey moves to impose fiduciary rule on brokers

Ensuring ETF names stay true to their objective and strategy: SEC cracks down on ETF names that could be misleading investors

News and notes (Canada)

BMO looking to expand its alternatives business globally: BMO’s Asset Management arm eyes alts expansion

Ninepoint purchases LOGiQ Global Partners: Ninepoint Partners acquires institutional advisory business

Agora Dealer Services launches wealth management platform for independent advisors: New digital platform for independent advisors

Advisors taking interest in the RI designation: RI designation gaining momentum among advisors

On the pulse – New frontiers in fintech

Canadians are concerned about privacy issues in open banking: Accenture survey reveals consumer hesitancy toward open banking

There’s plenty of opportunity for traditional banks to take advantage of the weaknesses in direct banks: Direct banks may be good, but they’re not unbeatable

A look at the benefits of contactless payments: The benefits of a cashless society

The European Commission provides ethical guidelines on testing new AI systems: European AI guidelines give hesitant developers green light

A look at a few developments in the AI space: 5 artificial intelligence developments to watch

How insurtech is catering to the younger generation: How insurtechs are shaking up a trillion dollar industry

Challenger banks must be able to respond to customer problems: Leaving customers digitally high and dry … big mistake

How organizations can optimize their use of data: The three considerations of data: standardize data, data strategy and data culture

Mastercard purchases POS financing company: Mastercard moves into POS financing with Vyze acquisition

Fintech firm merges with Difference Capital: Digital disruptor Mogo announces merger for accelerated growth

High-net-worth topics

Family offices becoming the preferred model for high-net-worth advisors: For high-net-worth clients, it’s not about the brand name, it’s about the experience

The impact of holding digital assets in trust: Digital assets in Bermuda

Advisors must get to know, and understand, the children of high-net-worth clients: What you need to know about the children of your wealthy clients

Polls & surveys – What financials are saying

Customer satisfaction with investment firms declined in 2018 (J.D. Power): Canadians’ satisfaction with investment firms drops

58% of millennials in the U.S. are saving for retirement (LendEDU): Most millennials are saving for retirement, prefer human advice: study

Many Americans don’t know about social investing (Newton): New survey finds most Americans unaware of ESG investing

Only 10% of Canadians are very comfortable with self-directed investing (TD): TD survey finds Canadians aren’t comfortable with self-directed investing

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