CC-BY-SA-2.0, Flickr. Pictet Asset Management Launches Robotics Fund
Pictet Asset Management, a pioneer in thematic investing, has announced the launch of Pictet-Robotics, one of the first funds of its kind to invest in robotics and artificial intelligence technologies. A Luxembourg Sicav, the fund aims to capitalize on the growth of an industry that is forecast to expand as much as four times faster than the global economy over the next decade.
Advances in IT, such as cloud computing and the emergence of powerful new microprocessors, are revolutionizing robotics and automation technologies, which are expanding beyond the factory floor into our everyday lives. Modern robotic devices are now equipped with a remarkable capacity to sense, gather, process and act on information, endowing them with dexterity, versatility and cognition. Robots that can detect changes in facial expressions and tones of voice are being used in services and security industries. In the health care industry, sophisticated robots already assist surgeons in complex procedures, while in transport smart sensor technology is being deployed in driverless cars.
Karen Kharmandarian, Senior Investment Manager, Thematic Equities, said, “Robots have long been used in factories to automate dangerous, dirty or dull tasks. But the pace of invention is accelerating as robots are becoming indispensable to our professional and personal lives. Companies active in robotics seem bound to enjoy strong growth from this new wave of innovation”.
The Robotics fund is the most recent addition to Pictet Asset Management’s range of thematic strategies which already include, among others, specialist funds in digital communication, security, health and water. Thematic funds allow investors to capitalize on long-term socio-economic trends shaping our world.
The official launch date of Pictet-Robotics is 8th October 2015 and the initial subscription period for the fund is 2-7 October.
The fund is currently registered in the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the UK. It will be available in other countries soon.
CC-BY-SA-2.0, FlickrFoto: Oliver Schnücker. Reacciones exageradas del mercado: el enfoque ‘Episode’ de M&G para encontrar oportunidades
Amundi ETF announces the launch of the first ETF in Europe leveraging the theme of European share buybacks, by tracking the MSCI Europe Equal Weighted Buyback Yield strategy index. The launch represents another innovative expansion of Amundi ETF’s European equity Smart Beta range.
The ETF is designed for investors seeking to capture yield from the European equity market via a return-oriented Smart Beta approach, by providing exposure to companies performing share buybacks, a method of distributing income to shareholders which is likely to grow in Europe.
Share buyback programs allow cash-rich companies to repurchase their own stocks. Already widely used in the US, they should become more popular for European companies as they represent a more efficient use of cash in a low rate environment and give companies more flexibility than dividend programs. Moreover, buyback programs are compelling for investors as they can provide higher returns in a low rate environment.
The MSCI Europe Equal Weighted Buyback Yield strategy index reflects the performance of MSCI Europe securities that have performed buybacks in the previous 12 months . Moreover, this strategy index applies an equal weight methodology, thus increasing diversification and providing a purer exposure to the share buyback theme with a reduced bias.
Amundi ETF is launching this new product in response to client demand, following the launch of its US buyback ETF earlier this year, which prompted interest in a European version based on the same theme. The ETF has a TER of 0,30% and will be made available in Paris and subsequently the major European exchanges.
Valerie Baudson, CEO at Amundi ETF, Indexing and Smart Beta, said: “This innovative ETF adds to our broad mono and multi Smart Beta range and reinforces the positioning of Amundi as a leading innovative player in the European ETF market.”
BNP Paribas Investment Partners (BNPP IP) has announced a series of new appointments within its Institutional business line, headed by David Kiddie, in order to enhance investment expertise, research and thought leadership capabilities.
Guy Williams has been appointed Chief Investment Officer for BNPP IP’s Institutional business. Guy will be responsible for promoting collaboration across investment teams, and developing investment strategy and market views. Formerly Chief Investment Officer of BNPP IP’s global fixed income affiliate Fischer, Francis, Trees & Watts (‘FFTW’), Guy successfully developed BNPP IP’s global fixed income platform across a range of strategies, and with three decades of experience he is ideally suited to this new role.
Joining Guy’s team are Senior Investment Strategist Daniel Morris and Senior Economist Richard Barwell. In their newly-created roles, Daniel and Richard will promote collaboration between investment teams and formulate alpha-generating investment views across all asset classes.
Morris’ wide-ranging experience encompasses advising clients and providing investment recommendations, as well as offering a strategic perspective to senior management and portfolio managers. He is a frequent commentator in print and broadcast media.
Barwell’s background is as a monetary economist within investment banking and central banking, covering both the UK and Eurozone economies. His thought-provoking insights combine academic rigour, strong analytical skills and deep knowledge with an innovative approach to macroeconomic issues, and his work has been published widely.
Replacing Guy as Chief Investment Officer and Head of Institutional Fixed Income is Dominick DeAlto, who will be instrumental in further strengthening BNPP IP’s fixed income platform, which currently has over 75 investment professionals and manages 40 investment strategies ranging from traditional to alternative fixed income, as well as driving its investment and commercial success. Dominick, who prior to this appointment was Head of Global Multi-Sector and Sector Rotation, has considerable experience managing a range of strategies, making him well placed for today’s changing fixed income environment, which lends itself to the development of contemporary investment strategies in order to address the requirements of clients.
Dominick has also made two changes to his team, with Timothy Johnson being appointed Head of Total Return Multi-Sector, which is a combination of the Global Multi-Sector and Global Sovereign teams, and Dan Singleman joining as Senior Portfolio Manager in the Sector Rotation Alpha team.
Timothy joined FFTW in early 2013 and has over two decades of experience, gained within both asset management and central banking. The Total Return Multi-Sector includes global aggregate, global unconstrained and global sovereign portfolios.
Dan has spent most of his career within BNPP IP. For eight years he was a credit analyst and then portfolio manager, before leaving last year to take up a broader asset allocation role and now re-joining BNPP IP to pursue a similar opportunity.
David Kiddie, Head of Institutional business at BNP Paribas Investment Partners, comments:
“I am very pleased to welcome such seasoned professionals. These appointments are designed to further strengthen our investment culture, as well as to enhance our research and investment capability. The strength of our investment culture is one of the key drivers of our future success and these appointments are a further step towards developing an environment in which our business can flourish, helping us to achieve our goal of offering our clients a world class investment proposition.”
