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Strategy - How does ‘quantamental' fit with factor investing?

Etienne Vincent — 2017-12-13T23:26:31Z

‘Quantamental' is a relatively new portmanteau word in asset management lingo. Its creation is indicative of a trend in our industry. Quantamental is the fruit of the marriage of the quantitative and fundamental (also known as judgmental) disciplines in managing money.

Strategy - Low volatility, the hidden factor

Etienne Vincent — 2017-04-27T01:47:00Z

Robert Haugen, who discovered the low-volatility anomaly in 1972, wrote numerous articles and books to try to popularise what he called the ‘hidden factor'. To some extent, it was only the advent of smart beta investment strategies that turned his dream into reality, as low volatility is central to the smart beta approach.

Strategy - Momentum, the unloved factor

Etienne Vincent — 2017-04-25T01:14:00Z

Momentum is unloved: being a good follower is rarely seen as a strength, and few asset managers would brag about using momentum as an investment factor, even though they know that ‘the trend is your friend'. Part of this unpopularity comes from the fact that momentum is a purely behavioural factor: only human irrationality can explain it, and we are not at ease with our own shortfalls.

Strategy - Quality, the positive factor

Etienne Vincent — 2017-04-19T23:42:12Z

Quality is positive: it is about good companies that are efficient at managing their businesses profitably, creating shareholder value and being rewarded with above average returns. Yet, quality is not always easy to recognise or measure. Here are a few pointers for avoiding some common misconceptions and mistakes.

Opinion - Psychology and smart beta

Etienne Vincent — 2017-03-30T23:35:00Z

‘Smart beta' sounds like an oxymoron. How smart can it be to continue using the same strategy in such fickle markets? A portfolio manager calling on all his skills (‘alpha') in analysing market environments (the source of ‘beta') should be able to outperform an unchanged algorithm, right? And yet, for several decades, findings in behavioural psychology have cast doubt on this assumption.

Strategy - Value, the obvious factor

Etienne Vincent — 2017-03-30T06:30:26Z

All famous investors from Benjamin Graham to Warren Buffet have, first and foremost, been fervent advocates of value investing. Value can be assessed in very diverse ways and value investing can also suffer from some drawbacks. Here are a few pointers for understanding value and avoiding the most common misconceptions...

Strategy - “Diversified Equity Factor Investing” combines four complementary factors that are loosely correlated with one another

Etienne Vincent — 2016-11-29T02:30:00Z

Based on factor investment, this innovative approach capitalises on the attractive performances thus far of smart beta strategies. It is based on the combination, within the same portfolio, of four complementary factors that are loosely correlated with one another: Quality, Valuation, Momentum and Low Volatility.

Strategy - Why is smart beta a true revolution?

Etienne Vincent — 2015-04-27T06:02:49Z

So what is “smart beta”? A mere revolt against traditional indices? No, Sir, it's a true revolution – the factor investing revolution. The questioning of allegiance to traditional indices, which until now were used broadly despite some serious drawbacks, has only just begun, but the stakes are already high and this could bring structural and long-lasting changes to the way investors make strategic allocations.

Strategy - The four cardinal “smart beta” virtues, or how to use Plato as an investment philosophy

Etienne Vincent — 2014-06-02T06:08:23Z

Etienne Vincent, head of THEAM's global quantitative management, explains how the four main recurring sources of outperformance in the equity markets, extensively developed in the “smart beta” concept, can be likened to the four cardinal virtues described by Plato, the Greek philosopher.

Opinion - Quantitative management: the THEAM way

Etienne Vincent — 2014-01-23T07:18:14Z

At THEAM, a subsidiary of the BNP Paribas Group, our development strategy involves promoting the added value that quantitative techniques can bring to the field of asset management.

Opinion - Smart Betas offer a new approach to bridge market bias

Etienne Vincent — 2013-04-04T09:24:00Z

When Alan Greenspan spoke of "market exuberance" (i.e. the lightning-fast mood swings from optimism to an investment bubble popping) wasn't he referring to what we could call a "Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde" syndrome?

Strategy - An example of Quantitative Strategy: The Low Volatility approach

Etienne Vincent — 2012-12-19T22:10:00Z

Low volatility indices and, more broadly, products based on quantitative strategies aiming to select only low-volatility stocks, have met with growing success with the financial community and investors. However, most of these indices have major drawbacks that cannot always be addressed with additional constraints.

Who's who - Sébastien Denry

2016-11-17T00:40:58Z

Sebastien Denry, Investment specialist Quant Equity, THEAM Sébastien Denry is an Investment Specialist at THEAM, the partner of BNP Paribas Investment Partners specialized in Protected, Indexed and Model-Driven management. Sebastien is in charge of the development of the Quantitative Equity (...)

News - Euronext in exclusive talks to acquire 20% of EuroCCP and to offer user choice clearing model for equity markets

2016-05-12T15:57:16Z

• MOU signed to finalise the acquisition of a 20% stake in EuroCCP for €14M (including contribution to regulatory capital) subject to closing adjustments • Euronext to create user choice for clearing of Euronext equity markets, through a preferred CCP model followed by interoperability • This (...)

News - ING completes sale of Taiwanese asset management business

2014-04-18T07:12:33Z

ING has completed the sale of ING Investment Management Taiwan, its Taiwanese asset management business, to Japan-based Nomura Asset Management in partnership with a group of investors. The transaction, which was announced on 10 January 2014, is in line with ING's earlier announced strategy to (...)

News - Swiss Re denies being in discussions with the Agnelli family or any of its investment vehicles

2014-03-12T23:21:45Z

Contrary to market speculation, Swiss Re is not in discussion with the Agnelli family or any of its investment vehicles regarding the possible acquisition of a stake in Swiss Re.

News - ING finalises agreement to make Dutch Defined Benefits Pension Fund financially independent

2014-02-28T09:34:38Z

ING announced today that it has finalised the previously announced agreement in principle to make ING's closed Defined Benefits (DB) Pension Plan in the Netherlands financially independent. The finalisation of the agreement releases ING from all future financial obligations arising out of this (...)

News - ING posts 2013 underlying net profit of EUR 3,255 million

2014-02-12T20:29:19Z

ING Group full-year 2013 underlying net profit of EUR 3,255 million, up 22.2% from full-year 2012 2013 net result EUR 3,232 million, or EUR 0.85 per share, including divestments, special items and discontinued operations 4Q13 net result of EUR 539 million, or EUR 0.14 per share, vs. EUR 0.39 (...)

News - Fitch Publishes Tikehau Credit Plus 'Strong' Fund Quality Rating

2014-02-02T19:23:52Z

Fitch Ratings has published Tikehau Credit Plus ‘Strong' Fund Quality Rating. The fund is France-domiciled and managed by Tikehau Investment Management (Tikehau IM).

News - Fitch Affirms CPR Croissance Reactive 'Strong' Fund Quality Rating

2014-02-02T19:22:30Z

Fitch Ratings has affirmed CPR Croissance Reactive's ‘Strong' Fund Quality Rating. The fund is a flexible multi-asset global fund, managed by CPR Asset Management (CPR AM), a wholly owned subsidiary of Amundi Asset Management.

News - ING completes sale of stake in China Merchants Fund

2013-12-04T01:06:17Z

ING announced today that it has completed the sale of its 33.3% stake in China Merchants Fund, an investment management joint venture, to its joint venture partners China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd., and China Merchants Securities Co., Ltd. The transaction, which was previously announced on 8 (...)

News - ING completes sale of investment management business in South Korea to Macquarie

2013-12-02T18:04:31Z

ING announced today that it has completed the sale of its investment management business in South Korea to Macquarie Group, an Australia-based, global provider of financial services. As previously announced on 10 July 2013, the transaction does not have a material impact on ING Group (...)

News - ING prices offering of ING U.S. shares at USD 29.50 per share

2013-10-23T22:49:23Z

ING announced today the pricing of 33 million shares of common stock of ING U.S., Inc., its U.S.-based retirement, investment and insurance subsidiary. Based on the final price of USD 29.50 per share, the offering size is approximately USD 974 million (approximately EUR 706 million at current (...)

News - Fitch Affirms Austria at 'AAA'; Outlook Stable

2013-09-29T18:32:25Z

Fitch Ratings has affirmed Austria's Long-term foreign and local currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDR) at 'AAA' with Stable Outlook. The agency has also affirmed the Short-term foreign currency IDR at 'F1+' and the Country Ceiling at (...)

News - Fitch Affirms European Stability Mechanism at 'AAA'; Outlook Stable

2013-09-10T19:06:15Z

Fitch Ratings has affirmed the European Stability Mechanism's (ESM) Long-term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at 'AAA' with a Stable Outlook and Short-term IDR at 'F1+'.

News - Fitch Affirms Denmark at 'AAA'; Outlook Stable

2013-09-05T06:07:31Z

Fitch Ratings has affirmed Denmark's Long-term foreign and local currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDR) at 'AAA' with a Stable Outlook. Fitch has simultaneously affirmed the Short-term foreign currency IDR at 'F1+' and the Country Ceiling for Denmark at (...)

News - Fitch Affirms Sweden at 'AAA'; Outlook Stable

2013-07-17T21:37:42Z

Fitch Ratings has affirmed Sweden's Long-term foreign and local currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) at 'AAA'. The Outlook on both ratings is Stable. Fitch has also affirmed Sweden's Short-term rating at 'F1+' and Country Ceiling at (...)

News - Fitch Downgrades Major French Banks

2013-07-17T21:35:01Z

Fitch Ratings has downgraded the Long-term Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) of Credit Agricole (CA), Societe Generale (SG), Groupe BPCE (GBPCE), Dexia and Dexia Credit Local (DCL) to 'A' from 'A+' and Short-term IDRs to 'F1' from 'F1+'. Fitch has also downgraded BNP Paribas' (BNPP) and CM11-CIC's (...)

News - Fitch Downgrades European Financial Stability Facility to 'AA+'

2013-07-16T06:07:31Z

Fitch Ratings has downgraded the European Financial Stability Facility's (EFSF) guaranteed and long-term debt Long-term rating to 'AA+' from 'AAA'. The EFSF's short-term (less than 12 months contractual maturity) guaranteed debt instruments' Short-term rating has been affirmed at (...)

News - Fitch Downgrades France to 'AA+'; Outlook Stable

2013-07-12T17:50:31Z

Fitch Ratings has downgraded France's Long-term foreign and local currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDR) to 'AA+' from 'AAA'. The Outlook is Stable. At the same time, the agency has affirmed France's Short-term foreign currency IDR at 'F1+' and the Country Ceiling at (...)

News - ING to sell Investment Management business in South Korea to Macquarie

2013-07-10T20:56:23Z

ING announced today that it has reached an agreement to sell its investment management business in South Korea to Macquarie Group, an Australia-based, global provider of financial services. The transaction is not expected to have a material impact on ING Group results. Subject to regulatory (...)

News - Fitch Affirms Japan at 'A+'; Negative Outlook

2013-05-16T20:15:08Z

Fitch Ratings has affirmed Japan's Long-term foreign and local currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) at 'A+' with a Negative Outlook. The Short-term IDR has been affirmed at 'F1+'. The Country Ceiling has been affirmed at 'AA+'. The affirmation of Japan's sovereign ratings in part reflects the (...)