Brian Bollen's Blog

UK economy strong pre-Brexit

The first estimate of second quarter UK GDP growth shows the economy performing well in the run up to the EU referendum on June 23, says Azad Zangana, Schroders Senior European Economist, commenting on today's UK GDP (gross domestic product) data which show stronger activity before the referendum and reduces the odds of a recession in the near-term.

Waiting for the extraordinary

Mint – Blain’s Morning Porridge 

We got no ship, no crew, how’re we going to get out of this one?

Citi enhances integrated programme

Citi says it has further enhanced its integrated custody programme with extended cut-off times for global custody accounts serviced from London, Luxembourg and New York.

All about politics and policies

Mint – Blain’s Morning Porridge

I find your lack of faith in the force disturbing....

ETF Securities launches first Gold Exchange-Traded Commodities on Fundsettle

ETF Securities, an independent provider of exchange-traded products (ETPs), today announced the listing of the first Exchange Traded Commodities (ETCs) on Euroclear’s FundSettle fund processing platform, powered by FundsPlace.

Investors will now have access to two physically-backed gold ETPs from ETF Securities via the platform: Gold Bullion Securities and ETFS Physical Gold.  

ETCs are traditionally listed on a stock exchange and can be traded like equities at any point during market hours. FundSettle will enable investors to buy and sell shares in these ETPs like those of mutual funds, at the end-of-day net asset value (NAV), thus offering an additional means of accessing the products.

I will be your honey bee

Mint – Blain’s Morning Porridge

Show me round your fruit cakes, cause I will be your honey bee

International investors optimistic about Japan

The latest survey from BNY Mellon found that North American and European institutional investors are optimistic about investing in Japan, encouraged by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ‘Third Arrow’ policies and by positive momentum in Japan’s corporate governance landscape.

Aquila Capital adds Huth to board

Aquila Capital says it is expanding its Advisory Board with the proven industry expert Olaf Huth.

Huth has over 30 years of asset management experience with a focus on investment solutions for wealthy private customers, family offices and institutional investors. He started his professional career at HSBC Trinkaus in 1985 (Trinkaus & Burkhardt as it was then known as a subsidiary of Midland Bank), where he held a number of senior positions in Germany and Switzerland. He was named a personally liable shareholder in 2001 and has been a member of the board of directors since 2013.

Care to help with Clydesdale Bank IPO feature?

Any analysts or other market commentators out there who are able and willing to talk about the Clydesdale Bank IPO to help with a feature I'm writing for Corporate Financier magazine?

If so, my direct email is: [email protected].

If not, do you know someone who is and to whom you could forward this message?

Rothesay Life appoints Northern Trust

Northern Trust has been appointed by Rothesay Life, one of the leading providers of regulated insurance solutions in the UK pension risk transfer market, to provide middle office services for a portfolio of over £20bn in assets under management.

All this raging circled

Mint – Blain’s Morning Porridge

As a whirlpool of boiling water has a centre point, so, all this raging circled around Defarge’s win-shop…

Bell rings the changes

Arthur Bell, a US Certified Public Accountant and advisory firm dedicated to servicing the alternative investment industry, entrepreneurs, family offices, and high net worth individuals, today announced significant senior management changes.

Negative interest rates, mixed implications

Negative interest rates would have mixed credit implications in advanced economies that have yet to experience them, according to a Moody’s report today (titled Higher inflation would have more positive credit impact than negative rates) that assesses the more radical options available to policymakers seeking to stimulate the economy when rates are already close to zero.

US payroll roulette continues

Keith Wade, chief economist at Schroders, looks at today's non-farm payrolls which beat expectations following last month's disappointing report.

US jobs number worth watching

Mint – Blain’s Morning Porridge

Would you like to go’n shoot the mountain masses, for here you stand no taller than the grass sees.

Today’s US jobs number will be worth watching.

Urge the sailors on

Mint – Blain’s Morning Porridge

Undinal songs urge the sailors on, till lured by the sirens’ cry…

Post-Brexit watch list

After the initial reaction to the Referendum result on Britain's proposed exit from the European Union begins to settle down and we enter the second full week after the vote, David Shairp, head of investment research, at Prudential Portfolio Management Group (PPMG) outlines the economic pressures to watch over the coming weeks.

Told you so

Mint – Blain’s Morning Porridge

The four most beautiful words in our common language: I told you so.

Non-integrated IT struggles

SimCorp, a provider of investment management solutions and services for the global financial services industry, today announced the results of a new TABB Group study, entitled ‘The Buy-side Legacy IT Hangover: Finding the Cure for Alpha, Compliance and Growth Impediments’.

One cross each

Mint – Blain’s Morning Porridge

Crucifixion? Out the door, line on the left, one cross each…