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Strategy - Asset allocation: American vertigo

Raphaël Gallardo — 2018-01-02T23:04:51Z

November's leading indicators show a fresh short-term acceleration in the world economy beyond the 4% mark. This growth pace is well above potential (3.5%) and should lead to renewed inflation and validate the tougher stance on monetary policy across most developed markets.

Opinion - The triumph of Abenomics

Raphaël Gallardo — 2017-11-06T00:23:34Z

Japan posted growth of 1.5% in the first half of the year, which is a remarkable performance for an economy with estimated potential of no more than 1%. Expansion in the Japanese economy is propelled by all drivers of private demand: exports, productive investment, household spending.

Opinion - Central banks: from doves to hawks?

Raphaël Gallardo — 2017-08-02T22:05:00Z

In the US, the UK, Sweden and Canada, central bankers have taken on board an economic situation that is coming close to full employment, with a risk of overheating not of inflation, but rather of private debt and asset prices (real estate, equities).

Opinion - Dear US equities …

Raphaël Gallardo — 2017-03-26T23:13:44Z

As shown by the correlation between the risk premium and productivity trend growth, the current 5.9% risk premium anticipates a return to productivity gains at 3%, which is the level we saw during the dot com boom at the end of the 1990s.

Opinion - Interest rates: Brexit and term premiums

Raphaël Gallardo — 2016-07-27T22:05:38Z

Since the announcement of the vote for Brexit at the UK referendum, long-term interest rates have plunged to record lows across all major currencies. The US 10-year interest rate hit an all-time low of 1.32% on July 6, before rebounding to 1.47% on July 12. But are these levels sustainable?

Strategy - Financial markets in 2016: From the « 3D » to the « 3R », a shift in market paradigm – is it going to last?

Raphaël Gallardo — 2016-05-22T22:52:20Z

Three forces collided at the turn of 2015-2016 to make markets extremely anxious. First, the Fed stuck to its promise to start a tightening cycle in 2015, with an in extremis hike in December 2015. The accompanying “dot plot” priced in four more hikes for 2016.

Opinion - Bank of Japan: the impossible task

Raphaël Gallardo — 2016-04-26T22:23:03Z

The governor of the Bank of Japan (BoJ), Haruhiko Kuroda, was given a clear mandate by the Prime Minister in 2013, to end the deflationary pressure which had been weighing on the country since 1998. In order to do so, the governor implemented an ultra-aggressive monetary strategy, based on massively increasing securities purchases by the central bank...

Strategy - Bank of Japan: stupor or fear?

Raphaël Gallardo — 2015-11-24T23:20:00Z

Since the 2008 crisis, central banks have had a major influence on financial market trends. The Bank of Japan (BoJ) in particular has orchestrated a historic rally among Japanese equity markets since announcing its quantitative and qualitative easing strategy (QQE) at the end of 2012.

Opinion - Fed: The Art of Evasion

Raphaël Gallardo — 2015-10-18T23:04:51Z

The US Federal Reserve maintained a status quo on its interest rates at its September meeting, thereby extending a period of zero interest rates that has lasted for virtually seven years already. This decision, which ought to have reassured investors, was on the contrary greeted with further significant equity market falls.

Opinion - Suddenly last summer

Raphaël Gallardo — 2015-09-13T22:43:00Z

There were bouts of volatility in financial markets this summer: collapse in Chinese equities, depreciation of the yuan dragging down emerging currencies, drastic fluctuations in equity markets in developed countries, collapse in commodity prices, etc. How can we interpret this turmoil and what is its impact on our asset allocation?

Opinion - ECB : a fresh deal of the cards

Raphaël Gallardo — 2015-02-09T23:43:51Z

For once the ECB surprised markets on the upside at its 22 January meeting. Despite numerous press leaks, the measures announced widely exceeded the expectations of market participants … and of governments. This new monetary reality should provide support for European equity markets in the coming months.

Opinion - Oil, caught in the cross-hairs of the currency war ?

Raphaël Gallardo — 2014-12-11T00:10:00Z

According to Raphaël Gallardo, Strategist – Investment and client solutions at Natixis Asset Management, the fall in the oil price is attributable to a real phenomenon (the downward revision in global energy demand), but which he considers to be amplified by macro-financial interest-rate issues (steepening US real rates) and foreign exchange factors (dollar rally).

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 (...)