Brendan Maton
Regular contributor
FeaturesShare buybacks: Bringing it back in-house
The corporate policy of share buybacks received a boost with the US tax cut, but are they an efficient use of excess capital or a means to further enhance executive remuneration and entrench societal inequality?
- News
Lawyers warn on political influence over public funds after UK court ruling
Palestine Solidarity Campaign to consider appeal against court decision
- Features
Short Selling: The long and the short
Earlier this year, the UK politician Peter Kyle described BlackRock as “schizophrenic” for holding both long and short positions in Carillion, a London-listed construction company that went bankrupt in January.
- News
Carillion: Trustee chair quizzed over pension contribution deferrals
Robin Ellison told a parliamentary enquiry that the trustees had been in “robust” negotiations with Carillion for years
- Country Report
UK pensions: Running the rule on costs
A large proportion of institutional investors’ costs remains opaque. Will a new UK initiative change this?
- Country Report
Consolidation: Pressure to unite
Are mergers or other forms of consolidation likely for UK pensions?
- News
Chris Sier appointed to lead UK cost transparency push
Outspoken campaigner will lead a working group to agree an industry standard disclosure template
- Special Report
UK LGPS: In flux
Governance in the new-look local government pension scheme of England and Wales
- News
UK regulator sets sights on institutional cost transparency
LGPS transparency code cited as FCA lays foundation for industry standard
- News
LGPS transparency code to show investment costs 'over £1bn' [updated]
Improved disclosure to reveal the true level of fees as asset managers brace for regulator’s report
- News
UK government divestment rules 'unlawful', court rules
LGPS funds not banned to comply with foreign or defence policies when implementing divestment decisions
- Country Report
Interview: Mark Burbach - Blue Sky Group
Mark Burbach, the chief investment officer of Blue Sky Group, tells Brendan Maton how it is coping with increased investment regulations
- Asset Class Reports
Investing In High-Yield Bonds: Is the party winding down?
Brendan Maton finds there is some wariness about how long high-yield debt will continue to offer good returns in the current environment, although investors still find the asset class attractive
- Special Report
Special Report Active Management: The active game
Asset management is attracting growing attention from new competition as well as regulators and politicians, finds Brendan Maton
- News
UK government faces legal challenge over local authority scheme veto
Palestine Solidarity Campaign applies for judicial review
- Features
Women in Asset Management: Redressing the balance
Women remain under-represented in asset management despite substantial success in improving their representation in other professions. Brendan Maton examines attempts to redress the balance
- Special Report
Multi-asset funds: Diversity among the diversified
Multi-asset funds encompass a wide range of strategies. Brendan Maton and Charlotte Moore profile three such portfolios
- Special Report
Pension Fund Governance: The pension pay challenge
Brendan Maton delves into the opaque – and controversial – world of pay in the pension fund sector
- Special Report
Trends that will shape the ETF market
Few doubt that ETF use will grow in the years ahead. Three out of four participants in a recent PwC survey believe the market will at least double by 2020 to US$5trn (€4.4trn)1. BlackRock believes European ETFs will reach US$1trn a year earlier, in 2019.
- Special Report
Investor case study: Fonditel
Fonditel is a curio in the Spanish savings market. With almost €3bn under management it is by far the largest funded company pension arrangement, for sponsor and owner Telefonica
