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SPECIAL REPORT
Interview with Simon Hopwood, Maples Group – The Covid-19 pandemic has caused a devastating impact on human life and health, and the global economy. As a consequence, the funds industry has faced unprecedented challenges, as it continues to navigate through unchartered waters.
Despite this, the Jersey funds industry has remained resilient with net assets under administration up 5.7 per cent(1) year on year standing at GBP361.7 billion(2) with alternative investment funds representing 87 per cent(3). Noticeably, private equity was up 19 per cent year on year(4) and managers using Jersey to market funds into the EU increased by 9 per cent
SPECIAL REPORT
By A Paris – Jersey is capitalising on its future position outside of the EU to attract US fund managers to its shores. This is despite the potential uncertainty driven by the looming end of the Brexit transition period and the global pandemic.
“As the largest law firm in Jersey with the busiest investment funds practice, we have experienced a sharp increase in US managers seeking access to European Union or European Economic Area capital through the use of Jersey vehicles.
“This trend is also evidenced by assets under management for funds incorporated in Jersey with US managers or promoters having increased
FUND PERFORMANCE
Hedge funds are storming into the final weeks of 2020, having notched up some of their biggest gains in decades on the back of the US presidential result and positive developments in the search for a coronavirus vaccine, with equity, event driven and cryptocurrency strategies all riding high last month.
Hedge Fund Research’s main Fund Weighted Composite Index grew 6.24 per cent last month, its best monthly return since December 1999, and its second biggest monthly rise since the index launched 30 years ago.
Since the start of 2020, the index – a global equal-weighted measure of more than 1,400
SPONSORED CONTENT
This is the final part in a series of four articles from the Waystone Client Solutions Team, bringing you a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities presented by the shifting European regulatory landscape. Last week, David Morrissey offered his unique personal perspective on the evolution of the third party management company sector. This week, James Woodbridge, Associate Director in the firm’s Cayman office, and part of the Fund Governance Team, provides an update us on the history of SPACs, how they have evolved over the years, and their positioning for the future.
SHORT-SELLING
Hedge funds betting against FTSE 100 companies suffered losses of almost USD1.5 billion last month, as bearish equity positions were struck down amid November’s strong stock market rally.
OUTLOOK
Global macro hedge funds from across the emerging market, systematic and discretionary spectrum may be well-placed to capitalise on prevailing equity valuations amid economic “normalisation”, Lyxor Asset Management strategists said this week.
While discretionary global macro funds offer a tactical bias, which appears relevant “at the trough of the business cycle”, emerging market-focused macro managers benefit from stronger credit profiles of energy and metal exporters amid rising commodity prices.
Risk assets have been setting new records in the US recently, Lyxor said in a note this week, with the S&P500 now up 13 per cent since the end of October,
SPONSORED CONTENT
The ever-rising demand for ESG has not only been driving the need for standards and regulations, but also the need for consistency on ESG ratings.
BREXIT
London-based hedge funds are warning of renewed market uncertainty, a less bullish stance on the pound and “extreme volatility” in the coming days, after EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and UK prime minister Boris Johnson agreed to further extend Brexit negotiations – with the risk of an “accidental” No Deal exit still remaining live.
SPECIAL REPORT
The alternatives and offshore business is gathering momentum in Tokyo as industry players witness growing demand and as government initiatives begin to bear fruit. This trend has led to changing technology needs as managers seek to accommodate global investors and adapt their infrastructure.
TECHNOLOGY
The world has witnessed an unprecedented explosion of data over the last few years. Most of us will be familiar with the term Terabyte, which represents 1012 or 1 trillion bytes of data. But such is the data-drenched world in which we live today that Caltech estimates 463 Exabytes of data will be created, every day, by 2025. One Exabyte is 1018, equivalent to one quintillion bytes!
