FW Asset Management is taking a short break over the summer period. The next scheduled edition will be on August 7. The editorial team wishes our readers a happy summer.

AMNews

Summer break at FW Asset Management

Financial companies must be held responsible if hired influencers do not disclose the risk tied to investments, and violations should lead to fines or license suspension, says the EU Commission.

Fund Management

Influencers that advise on financial products have drawn the attention of the European Commissioner for financial services, Mairead McGuinness. | Foto: Aurore Martignoni / European Union

Finnish pension giant revamps the role of responsible investment

From June on, Varma’s director of responsible investment will also take over leadership of the company’s communications.

Hanna Kaskela, director of responsible investment at Varma. | Foto: PR Varma.

KLP: Nordic investor's share of active funds is irrational

Nordic investors have way too much money allocated to actively managed funds that are too expensive and inefficient, the CEO at KLP Kapitalforvaltning says in an interview with AMWatch.

AMWatch

Håvard Gulbrandsen is the CEO of KLP Kapitalforvaltning, the asset manager of Norway's largest pension company Kommunal Landspensjonskasse (KLP). | Foto: PR / KLP

There will be no AMWatch newsletter on Monday, May 29. The media is closed due to a public holiday.

EU to combat "biased and unfair" investment counseling

In a long-awaited proposal, the European Commission ramps up demands for the financial sector related to private investments. Interest group fears ”huge, unintended consequences.”

"The purpose of this law package is to improve results for retail investors," Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, Valdis Dombrovskis says. | Foto: Tt News Agency/Reuters/Ritzau Scanpix

Oil fund puts Indonesian company on observation list, fearing damage to cultural heritage

Some of the oldest rock art in the world can be found in the areas where an Indonesian company operates. This includes cave art which is at least 43,900 years old.

At least 40,000 years old paintings that depict animals discovered in caves on the island of Sulawesi are rewriting the history of art. | Foto: Handout/Reuters/Ritzau Scanpix

Allianz pursues using ESG to find excess return in emerging market debt

Allianz’ head of emerging market debt believes that 2023 will be the year that government bonds from emerging markets will yield just as positive returns as equities.

Responsible Investing

Richard House, head of emerging market debt at Allianz Global Investors, thinks that we will see the same level of return in emerging markets’ sovereign debt as typically seen in equities. | Foto: Magnus Eidem

AkademikerPension invests in French climate fund

The Danish pension fund is investing a three-digit million-kroner sum in the early phase of climate projects.

Pension

Anders Schelde is CFO at AkademikerPension. | Foto: Pr/mp Pension

Swedish housing starts slump 55% in latest sign of crisis

Sweden’s residential property market saw construction levels falling by more than half in the first quarter as one of the world’s worst real estate routs continues to gather steam.

Buildings under construction in Stockholm, Sweden. | Foto: Simon Johnson/Reuters/Ritzau Scanpix

Food giant agrees to USD 450m settlement with AP7-led plaintiffs

Kraft Heinz has agreed to settle a lawsuit by a group of investors led by the Swedish pension fund. The plaintiffs accused the company of making misleading statements in connection with a merger.

The Kraft Heinz Group has agreed to pay USD 450m in a settlement with a group of plaintiffs.

Analysis: How urgent are cost cuts in the AM industry?

The asset management industry is facing a significant growth in costs when several managers struggle to get sales and income back on track. Is it constant care and prudent business to act now?

Flemming Højbo writes analyses for AMWatch about the Nordic asset and wealth management sector. Højbo was head of communications in the asset management industry for 15 years, and before that, he worked for 25 years as financial and business reporter and editor. | Foto: Jan Bjarke Mindegaard

AI intrigues ETF managers as both investment and tool

Artificial intelligence is inculcating throughout the almost USD 7trn US exchange-traded fund industry, both as technology for managing funds and as a new frontier for investment.

Nordea hires Amundi's Kasper Elmgreen as new CIO

Nordea Asset Management has found a new CIO of Fixed Income & Equities, AMWatch has learned. (updated)

Kasper Elmgreen is leaving Amundi to become the new CIO of Fixed Income & Equities at Nordea Asset Management. | Photo: Amwatch / Søren Rathlou Top

BlackRock's fresh research indicates significant ETF growth potential in the Nordics

Driven by a new generation of young investors and their affinity for digital platforms, the Nordic ETF market is poised for a remarkable level of growth, says Karina Schmitt Lund of BlackRock.

Photo: David Goldman/AP/Ritzau Scanpix, Jens Dresling, Lars Hansen/Ritzau Scanpix, Thomas Borberg.

Alecta’s huge investment in real estate giant loses SEK 3bn of its value

The Swedish pension firm’s investment in real estate company Heimstaden Bostad looks less positive today than when it was made, Alecta’s acting CEO admits.

Acting CEO Katarina Thorslund admits that the Heimstaden investment is less succesful than Alecta expected. | Photo: Alecta / PR

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EU to crack down on "finfluencers"