Bank of England Votes Unanimously to Leave Rates Unchanged at 3.75%
The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee voted unanimously to keep the Bank Rate at 3.75%. The decision comes as inflation remains above the 2% target, pressured by higher energy prices and geopolitical uncertainty. By holding rates steady, the MPC signals a cautious stance while monitoring price developments. No immediate easing is anticipated, preserving the current monetary tightening cycle.
Partner Insight: Are Investors Missing a Trick by Overlooking Global Mid and Small-Caps?
Global mid‑ and small‑cap equities have delivered superior long‑term performance, generating a 107% excess return over large‑caps across the past 25 years. Their Sharpe ratios also surpass those of large‑caps, indicating better risk‑adjusted outcomes. The segment offers diversification benefits, with...
D2 Legal Technology's Simon Maharaj: Questions for Fund Managers as Tokenisation Momentum Builds
Simon Maharaj of D2 Legal Technology warns fund managers that tokenisation is moving from a niche experiment to a mainstream finance driver. He outlines the critical questions managers must address as digital asset platforms gain traction, including regulatory compliance, custody...
Partner Insight: Split Decision - Making Sense of Market Divergence
The market is showing pronounced divergence across asset classes, with equities rotating toward defensive, value‑oriented sectors while growth‑heavy tech lags. In credit, higher‑rated high‑yield bonds remain tight, but spreads on CCC‑rated loans have widened sharply, especially in the software segment....
Stories of the Week: Unemployment, Industry Consolidation, and Semi-Liquid Funds
This week’s investment roundup highlighted three interlinked themes: a resurgence in unemployment, accelerating consolidation among asset‑management firms, and a surge in semi‑liquid fund inflows. Unemployment edged to 5.2% in Q4 2025, prompting managers to boost cash buffers and reassess risk models....
Invesco Global Equity Income and Franklin Global Trust Merger Receives Shareholder Backing
Franklin Global Trust and Invesco Global Equity Income Trust are nearing completion of a merger after the first of two required shareholder votes was approved. The combined entity will pool assets, creating a larger investment trust with expanded global equity...
ARK Invest Europe's Rahul Bhushan: Defence Edges Into Core Portfolio Allocation Status
ARK Invest Europe’s Rahul Bhushan announced that the defence sector has been elevated to a core‑allocation status within the firm’s European thematic funds. The upgrade follows a surge in investor interest, with total European thematic ETF net inflows reaching $15.8 bn...
EdenTree Renames Entire Fund Range to Align with SDR Labelling
EdenTree Investment Management has rebranded a large portion of its fund lineup to reflect the completion of Sustainable Development Reporting (SDR) labelling across the entire range. The renaming aligns each strategy’s name with its ESG focus, making sustainability credentials more...
UK Funds Remain Unloved Despite Impressive Year for FTSE 100
The FTSE 100 delivered a strong performance this year, climbing roughly 12% despite lingering macro uncertainties. Yet UK equity funds continued to see net outflows, with investors pulling about 15% less capital compared to the previous year. The reluctance stems...
Semi-Liquid Funds 'Not Magic Diversifiers' As Investors Seek Higher Returns
Investors are increasingly gravitating toward semi‑liquid, or evergreen, funds in pursuit of higher returns, but industry experts warn these vehicles are not a universal solution. Evergreen funds blend liquid and illiquid assets, allowing periodic redemptions while retaining exposure to higher‑yielding...
Deep Dive: Managers Bullish on China but Await 'Clearer Signals' From Government
Fund managers are increasingly bullish on China as equity markets rebound, but they remain cautious until the government provides clearer policy direction. The recent rally has revived interest in a market once deemed “uninvestable,” prompting a reassessment of exposure levels....
Most AllianzGI Funds Pass Assessment of Value Test
An independent Assessment of Value test has evaluated Allianz Global Investors' UK fund lineup. The majority of the funds received a positive rating, indicating they deliver good value to investors. A subset were amber‑flagged, meaning they only meet basic value...
'A Blow to the LSE': Industry Raises Concerns About Schroders Takeover
Nuveen, a US investment firm, has launched a £9.9 bn hostile bid to acquire UK asset manager Schroders. Industry voices warn the deal could further shrink the already limited pool of listed assets on the London Stock Exchange. Critics argue the...
