The Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) came into force during 2007 to facilitate cross-border financial services throughout Europe and foster competition between trading venues via a level playing field. Following the financial crisis in 2008 and during 2011, proposals were set out to revise MiFID. Since the political agreement on the adoption of MiFID […]
Archive | Industry Trends
Freaking Out, Brexit Style
The first line of the Fortune article read “Decades of European integration were blown up by a single vote”. For the Economist, a “senseless, self-inflicted blow”. The Telegraph deemed it the “greatest disaster to befall the block in its 59-year history”. NIKKEI 225 down 7.92%. DAX down 6.82%, CAC 40 down 8.04%, FTSE down 3.15%, […]
Steady Navigation Can Turn Fund Industry Tidal Waves into Ripples
The convergence of lower interest rates, unpredictable and underperforming markets, and increased consolidation and competition in today’s fund industry has left asset managers scratching their collective heads and wondering how to navigate this endless wave of challenges. Not only must their navigation of the obstacles be flawless, they must best the changing landscape to enable […]
Rise of Influence of Third-Party Administrators
The pressure to reduce costs is constant. In the fund industry where cost ratios directly affect fund performance and price, asset managers continue to look for ways to reduce costs. At the same time they are looking to cut costs, many also strive to increase efficiency. And on top of all of this, investor and […]
Best of 2015: Another year of new regulations, compliance, automation and a drive toward back-office defragmentation.
Before reading our predictions for next year, why not have a look back at our most read blog posts for 2015 where our experts have addressed the regulatory and compliance issues, as well as operational challenges, the asset management industry faced. Regulatory Black Hole On the back of a vote at the U.S. Senate on […]
The Global View on Liquidity Risk Management for Mutual Funds
As we all personally look forward to the start of a new year, the global financial services regulatory agenda for 2016 looks far less refreshing. Among other things, 2015 will be remembered as the year the International Monetary Fund (IMF) publically called for re-examining the asset management industry and its potential for posing a risk […]
Shifting Powers – Client Centricity, the New Must-Have for Asset Managers
One of the most important trends that has affected the asset management sphere in recent years is the shift of market power toward the High Net Worth Individuals (HNWIs) and institutional investment clients. According to a report published by Roland Berger AM a few years ago, “the balance of market power is gradually shifting toward […]
AIFMD Passporting Debate Continues as National Private Placement Regimes get a Reprieve
On 30th July, after much anticipation and a one-week delay, ESMA has released its advice and opinion to the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission in relation to the functioning of the EU’s Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD) fund distribution passport. Interested parties eagerly digested the material and the media output that followed […]
Threat from Above: Cyber Criminals Take Aim at the Financial Services Industry
These days it seems you cannot go one day without hearing about another large scale data breach conducted on some of the world’s largest organizations across industries, from healthcare, to retail, to finance. As these attacks become more sophisticated and wide-spread, the need for vigilance and security within all organizations is all the more paramount. […]
Take a Step Back
Ever since the beginning of the financial crisis the investment fund industry has been plunged into a period of intense regulatory remodeling that has created a sea of change for asset managers. Firms have been busy plugging the holes of their data management processes to comply with the ever growing number of data points they […]
