Tag Archives: press-releases
New Funds: May 20
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/b106c054-bef4-11e2-87ff-00144feab7de.html#ixzz2U1nHMF00 ● Diapason Commodities Management is launching a ForestCare Investment fund, which will invest in forestry-related equities, bonds and derivatives, as well as forest plantations on a sustainable basis. Aimed at pension funds and institutional investors, the A class shares (€125,000 minimum investment) carry a 1.45 per cent management fee while the institutional class shares (€1m minimum investment) charge 95bp. ● Russell Investments has expanded its fund range with the Russell Absolute Return Bond fund (RARBF). ● RWC is to launch the RWC Global Horizon fund, a long-only unconstrained global equities fund. It will be managed by Louise Keeling who joined in April from Marathon Asset Management. Fees have yet to be finalised. ● Allianz Global Investors has brought to market the Allianz Europe Equity Growth Select fund, a concentrated portfolio of 30-45 stocks targeting structural growth ideas. The A share class carries a 1.5 per cent management fee and a 30bp administration fee. ● BlackRock is expanding its range of European corporate bond exchange traded funds with a new ETF focused on financial issuers. The iShares Barclays Euro Corporate Bond Financials ETF provides exposure to fixed rate, investment grade bonds issued by financial companies, and it carries a total expense ratio of 20bp. ● Cambria Investment Management has launched an ETF providing exposure to “yield-rich” US and international equities. The Cambria Shareholder Yield ETF, known as SYLD, carries an annual expense ratio of 59bp. ● Guotai Asset Management has brought out a Nasdaq 100 index that will trade on the Shanghai stock exchange, providing a new route for Chinese investors to the US stock market. Continue reading
Is Tokyo the New Miami?
Is Tokyo the New Miami? By Michael Gerrity | May 16, 2013 What does Tokyo have in common with the Miami and Dubai property markets? A tidal wave of foreign property investment is flooding the market due to currency exchange rate fluctuations. Over the last several years Miami’s white-hot property market has been the beneficiary of both a flight of capital from Venezuela, due to the policies of late President Hugo Chavez, and Brazil’s surging real against the U.S. dollar. Similarly, the collapse last year of Iran’s rial, which fell as much as 40 percent in a single week in September 2012, sparked a significant flight of capital by wealthy Iranian families into Dubai condos. Now Japan’s new Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, has moved to spark inflation by devaluing the yen, which has led to a torrent of foreign property investment into Tokyo and other parts of Japan. Investment in Japan property rose to $10.6 billion in the first quarter of 2013, up 32 percent year from a year ago and 38 percent from the previous quarter, Jones Lang LaSalle reports. Japan is the “one [market] to watch,” said Stuart Crow, head of Asia Pacific capital markets at Jones Lang LaSalle. As reported in the New York Times yesterday, Japan’s economy is growing at 3.5 percent annualized rate. This is a real sign that the Japanese Prime Minister’s “Abenomics” policies are gaining real traction in the marketplace. One of the things I’ve learned in my 25-year career in global real estate–“flights of capital,” either due to financial arbitrage opportunities between two currencies, or as safe harbors from unfavorable domestic policies, are a much larger influencer of property markets in many parts of the world than local demand. And that’s what is happening in Japan. The bottom line is efficient use of money drives property markets much more than consumer needs. Continue reading
International Interest May Squeeze Out Local Buyers in UK
MAY 20, 2013 BY ALLISON HALLIDAY Property investment expert Rick Otton is warning that increased levels of international institutional investment in the UK property market, in particular from the US could make it even harder for buyers to get onto the property ladder. An upturn in US business confidence has led to increased investments in the UK property market, with more than £100 million coming from institutional investors in the US since the start of this year. Rick Otton is warning that this increased investment combined with a rising market means UK residents may find it even harder to buy their own home. He said “This is yet another example of how buyers, and first time buyers in particular, are being squeezed out of the market. The very thing which makes the UK market attractive to investors is the same thing which makes it harder for people to buy homes. The UK already has a shortage of affordable housing, with millions of people struggling to achieve the dream of homeownership through traditional lenders-the banks. Now that they are up against US international investors as well, it’s clear that alternative real estate investment strategies need to be used if they are to get a foot in the door.” The UK is proving attractive to institutional investors from the US due to the growing momentum in the housing market. Some of this momentum can be attributed to new household formation which is growing at nearly 3 times the speed of additional housing. Mr Otton went on to say “The number of people in the UK who own their own home has been going backwards, with 200,000 less homeowners now than four years ago. We know that it’s hard for people to get into the market, and these figures show that it’s hard to stay in the market. With increased competition from institutional investors making scarce property less affordable, it’s going to be even harder for people to borrow from traditional banks. This is where my alternative strategies will help people get into, and stay in, the market.” Rick Otton’s real estate investment strategies shows people how to get onto the property market without having any existing property equity, a bank mortgage, and a deposit or stamp duty. Those interested in gaining an insight into his techniques can download his Power Property Profits Pack which is available free from his website . Continue reading
