Asset managers have long been using Luxembourg as a base for cross-border fund distribution but the Grand Duchy has found a new lease of life as a haven for tech-based start-ups

Technology has proved to be a driving force behind the rise of smart beta, both in terms of developing the strategies themselves and in distributing the products that put them to use

Sarasin & Partners, pioneers of the long-term thematic approach to investing, see plenty of opportunity in US equities, while also highlighting European and Japanese exporters 

A recruitment drive in its growth markets is allowing BlackRock to build partnerships with more domestic firms, according to Emea boss Alex Hoctor-Duncan, while reporting rising demand for products offering income 

Multi-asset funds are proving increasingly popular among investors looking to diversify away from bonds and boost income, claims M&G’s Jonathan Willcocks, while Europe is expected to become the next sub-advisory battleground

Fund distribution is changing. A number of “global gorillas” are expanding through acquisition to dominate the cross-border space while other banks look to dominate their domestic markets. But does this benefit investors?

The bulk of Principal Global Investors’ future growth will come from HNW individuals, says Nick Lyster who runs the US firm’s European operations, with private banks’ renewed appetite for sub-advisory partners a prime target

It is not always possible to carry out full in-depth due diligence on a portfolio manager, but it is essential that advisers go beyond merely screening past performance before recommending funds to clients