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Opinion - Is the Eurozone headed for two decades of japanstyle slow growth?

Mark Burgess — 2019-09-25T22:03:39Z

Despite it being more than 10 years since the global financial crisis (GFC), the world remains heavily indebted and there is no realistic prospect of that debt reducing in the short or medium term. Barring glaring historical exceptions, sovereign debt levels in many economies are close to all-time highs...

Opinion - Lessons from a decade of bank bailouts

Mark Burgess — 2019-02-10T23:20:00Z

A decade on, banks in some major economies have largely recovered from the global financial crisis (GFC). In others, however, legacies of bad assets continue to clog the banking system, stalling the engine of economic growth. The reasons for this divergence lie largely in the differing approaches governments took to recapitalising their banks after the crisis...

Opinion - The long unwinding road of quantitative easing

Mark Burgess — 2017-07-10T23:54:02Z

According to Mark Burgess, CIO EMEA and Global Head of Equities, Columbia Threadneedle Investments, an unwinding of QE could cause increased volatility in the markets and a fight for remaining liquidity, as the supply of government bonds starts to disappear.

Strategy - Equities continued to make new highs but many risks are emerging on the horizon

Mark Burgess — 2017-01-26T07:24:56Z

Equities continued to make new highs as we moved into 2017, but we are mindful that the outlook is littered with macro-economic and political risks – not least the forthcoming elections in France, Holland and Germany, Article 50, and President Donald Trump.

Opinion - Trump leads Republican sweep as US rejects status quo

Mark Burgess — 2016-11-14T00:32:44Z

Global uncertainty to remain as election result signals further rolling back of globalisation themes, with emerging markets likely to see greatest impact. For the US, the Republican sweep in both houses will facilitate Trump's agenda with a focus on domestic growth, spending and fiscal stimulus.

Opinion - We are increasingly mindful of the threats to risk assets that are looming on the horizon

Mark Burgess — 2016-11-04T06:44:43Z

In a world where a significant segment of government bond yields continue to hover in or near negative territory, the credit cycle looks to be nearing its end, and the devaluation of sterling is dominating the agenda, we are increasingly mindful of the threats to risk assets that are looming on the horizon.

Opinion - Easy money: Could the cure be more damaging than the illness itself?

Mark Burgess — 2016-09-28T22:55:03Z

Given the economic and political headwinds and shocks we have experienced in the first six months of 2016, the summer could easily have been characterised by uncertainty and volatility.

Strategy - Why we are taking our equity overweight to neutral for first time in five years

Mark Burgess — 2016-07-21T22:40:53Z

Mark Burgess, CIO EMEA and Global Head of equities at Columbia Threadneedle Investments, discusses the market reaction post Brexit, the impact of central bank actions and why Columbia has decided to reduce its equity exposure from overweight to neutral in asset allocation portfolios whilst favouring European high yield in the credit space.

Opinion - Global markets are being troubled by a range of issues

Mark Burgess — 2016-05-26T22:38:41Z

Global markets are being troubled by a range of issues: some old, some new. According to Mark Burgess, CIO EMOA and Head of Equity Investments at Columbia Threadneedle Investments, three issues are worth paying close attention to: Global growth, Ongoing macroeconomic uncertainties in China and Debt...

Opinion - The Greek crisis takes a new turn

Mark Burgess — 2015-06-30T05:35:44Z

According to Mark Burgess, Chief Investment Officer EMOA and Head of Equity market at Columbia Threadneedle Investments, the European earnings outlook does not look immediately compromised by events in Greece, although this will depend upon the impact on consumer and business confidence and the credit channel remaining open for creditworthy borrowers in Southern Europe...

Opinion - Extraordinary times… winners and losers in the oil game

Mark Burgess — 2014-12-18T23:28:51Z

We are living and investing in extraordinary times. Investors face a ‘perfect storm' of risks which are correlating and affecting markets. The largest headlines are being generated by the movements in energy markets as Brent crude oil has fallen by 45% so far this year in US dollar terms.

Opinion - The Recovery-less Recovery

Mark Burgess — 2014-10-20T22:50:00Z

Global risk assets have had a testing week last tweek; at the time of writing, the S&P 500 is more than 8.5% below the record high it achieved just a month ago. So why are markets rattled?

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 (...)