Bond ETFs Redefine Liquidity
Bond exchange‑traded funds have surged past $3 tn in assets, more than doubling since 2020, as higher yields and volatility drove record inflows and trading. BlackRock’s iShares head Vasiliki Pachatouridi notes that ETFs now act as “shock absorbers,” letting investors shift exposure without trading individual bonds, especially during stress. Volumes are running about 1.4 × the three‑month average, with $414 m flowing into inflation‑linked ETFs this year. The growth has turned ETFs into a real‑time price‑discovery venue while preserving liquidity when cash bond markets fragment.
The Iran Crisis Shows Why Capital Markets Need Tokenisation Now
The Iran crisis and the Strait of Hormuz shutdown highlighted tokenised gold and oil venues as the only transparent markets trading in real time. BlackRock’s Larry Fink declared the tokenisation of all assets is just beginning, urging institutions to move...
T+1 Is Coming: Why the Funds Industry Must Confront Its Biggest Settlement Challenge Yet
The UK and EU will move to a T+1 settlement cycle in October 2027, compressing the post‑trade window for all market participants. While mutual funds are not directly regulated, the faster settlement of underlying securities creates a timing mismatch with fund...
J.P. Morgan Asset Management Names Head of Private Markets Emea
J.P. Morgan Asset Management announced the appointment of John Doe as head of private markets for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The move comes as equity funds in the region have recorded roughly £1.44 b ($1.83 b) of net outflows, prompting...
What Private Credit Stress Is Really Telling Investors
Recent redemption requests at large private‑credit funds have highlighted a hidden liquidity mismatch within mixed portfolios. While private assets promise higher yields and diversification, they are bound by lock‑up periods and infrequent valuations that contrast sharply with the instant pricing...
Liquidity Meets Reality
Claire Madden of Connection Capital says the surge in private‑market secondaries reflects both structural maturation and a cyclical response to constrained exits. She positions secondaries as a portfolio‑management tool that enables rebalancing and exposure to high‑quality assets, but not a...
Ucits Sales Hit January Record
January 2026 set a new record for European UCITS funds, with net sales reaching €150 billion (about $163.5 billion), far above December’s €52 billion. Total inflows across UCITS and AIFs hit €168 billion ($183 billion), more than doubling the previous month. Long‑term UCITS saw €101 billion...
UK-CCI: A Game-Changer Looms
The FCA will launch its new UK Consumer Composite Investments (CCI) regime on 6 April 2026, replacing the EU‑PRIIPs and UCITS KID templates with a flexible, consumer‑focused Product Summary Document (PSD) backed by a Core Product Information (CPI) file. The rules remove...
Is It Time to Reassess European Equities?
European equities outperformed the U.S. in 2025, yet investor sentiment remains cautious. A gradual regime shift is underway as Europe moves from a deflationary mindset toward growth‑focused fiscal and infrastructure spending, supported by low unemployment and looser financial conditions. AI...
One Month On: Iran War Outcome for Investors Still Hard to Call
A month into the Iran‑US‑Israel conflict, analysts stress that the duration of the Strait of Hormuz closure will dictate oil price dynamics and broader economic outcomes. State Street outlines four scenarios ranging from a quick reopening to a prolonged energy...
Rathbones AM Broadens Lux Sicav with EM Equity Strategy
Rathbones Asset Management launched the Rathbone Sicav Global Emerging Markets Equity fund, expanding its Luxembourg‑based SICAV platform. Managed by former GAM professionals Tim Love and Joaquim Nogueira, the active fund will hold 80‑120 stocks, using bottom‑up selection and top‑down screens...
European Autonomy: A Thematic Investment Ripe for EU Savers
Europe’s push for strategic autonomy is reshaping investment flows, with 2025 marking a historic surge in European equity ETFs that attracted roughly €80 bn (about $86 bn) in net inflows. Asset managers have responded by launching thematic funds focused on defence, energy...
“Dear Regulator…” – FundsTech 2026 Conference Keynote Addresses UK AI Tightrope
Professor Michael Mainelli, chairman of Z/Yen Group and former Lord Mayor of London, will headline the FundsTech 2026 conference with a keynote titled “Dear Regulator, My Algorithm Ate The Market.” The speech will spotlight Britain’s precarious position in shaping AI...
Why CCI Will Push More Funds Into Higher Risk Categories
The Climate Capital Index (CCI) is introducing a streamlined Risk and Return Score that mirrors the SRRI used in UCITS KIID disclosures, while being simpler than the PRIIPs SRI framework. By aligning its methodology with familiar regulatory metrics, CCI aims...
UK Confirms Ongoing Close Cooperation with EU on Regulation – ALFI Conference
Lucy Rigby, the UK economic secretary, announced at the ALFI conference that Britain will deepen regulatory cooperation with the EU while tailoring rules to support private‑market growth and digital innovation. The agenda includes modest tweaks to the UK’s AIFMD‑style regime,...