Peter Laurelli
Vice-president, global head of research, eVestment
Opinion PiecesGuest ViewPoint: Peter Laurelli, eVestment
Comparing asset management fees across firms, strategies and regions is not a simple task. There are frequently differences, sometimes large, in what asset managers state they charge in their marketing materials, and the fees they actually negotiate during due diligence and selection processes.
FeaturesIPE Expectation Indicator: February 2019
The end of 2018 saw expectations shift meaningfully in certain markets, and then pause. It also saw trends accelerate, then pause. For most of us, the pauses were welcome, because the shifts were related to broad market plans
FeaturesIPE Expectations Indicator: July/August 2018
As often in high summer, storms – in the form of volatility – may be on the horizon
FeaturesIPE Expectations Indicator: June 2018
This month’s IPE Expectations Indicator poll sees no change in some areas, some change in others, and a continuation of a long-term trend, which is, in itself, both a change and not a change.
FeaturesIPE Expectations Indicator: April 2018
The influx of pessimism in the prior survey has not carried over into this month
FeaturesIPE Expectations Indicator: March 2018
What does one expect to happen when positive sentiment declines across the board? What we know is that near universal sentiment movements do not happen often
FeaturesIPE Expectations Indicator: February 2018
Given the similarities between the February 2018 and February 2017 expectations surveys, it may be appropriate to wish everyone a ‘happy same year’
FeaturesIPE Expectations Indicator: January 2018
It would be an understatement to say the shine has left the US equity market, given this month’s manager expectation submissions
FeaturesIPE Expectations Indicator: December 2017
This survey has rarely found such consensus among asset managers as we see in this month’s survey. Virtually no manager expects euro-zone equities to fall or euro bond prices to rise
FeaturesIPE Expectations Indicator November 2017
Just when some major themes seemed to be on pause, managers’ expectations crept into rarified territory, while in others themes in place since at least 2014 have gathered momentum. Whether valuation extremes are appropriate, managers believe they will continue.
FeaturesIPE Expectations Indicator September 2017
Investment managers’ expectations have been welcomingly accurate throughout the year. For example, positive sentiment toward European equities began to rise sharply near the end of 2016, followed by a roughly 20% rise in 2017. Additionally, expectations for dollar strength have been falling since January, and the dollar index (DXY) was down nearly 10% year-to-date through the recent survey period. What are managers’ views as we enter the second half of 2017?
FeaturesIPE Expectations Indicator June 2017
When fewer than one in 10 respondents expects something to happen, it is hard to accept it could happen. There is an increased number of such instances in the most recent IPE Asset Manager Expectations poll.
FeaturesIPE Expectations Indicator May 2017
A key metric for interpreting manager expectations is the difference between those expecting a rise and those expecting a fall. Having data to analyse, trends, trend shifts and historical highs and lows helps make things clearer. While there are many themes worth noting, there is only one universally negative point, which is historically low and in a strong downtrend.
FeaturesIPE Expectations Indicator April 2017
The latest manager poll has two main themes: markets are weak and levels of sentiment are extreme.
FeaturesIPE Expectations Indicator October 2016
The current survey period captured the end of the summer. The number of managers voicing concern about interest rate policy is high. However, the current environment has yet to reflect the alarms of many major investors and the survey results indicate most managers expect little dramatic near-term movement. Whether it is not yet the season for action, or investors expect the status quo to continue, is yet unclear.
FeaturesIPE Expectations Indicator September 2016
As time passes since the UK’s decision to leave the EU, some of the trends of the months prior have returned. This includes: outperforming US equity markets and dwindling faith in US dollar strength against the euro and yen (albeit with some volatility) and in sterling, which continues to drift lower after its post-Brexit decline. Whether managers’ expectations have recovered as quickly as these trends is the subject of this month’s review.
FeaturesIPE Expectations Indicator August 2016
The expectation survey for August was completed in a post-Brexit market environment in which uncertainty was high, but cooler heads ultimately prevailed. Initial reactions caused a rebound in USD strength and an equity market sell-off, which was ultimately short-lived. Nevertheless, disrupted markets will influence expectations and results from the survey reflect managers’ concerns towards riskier assets.
FeaturesIPE Expectations Indicator July 2016
During the survey period, managers experienced a different environment than during the two prior months. The dollar reversed its weakening trend, and commodity prices diverged as oil prices rose, metals’ declined, and coming screaming to the forefront of geopolitical headlines was the Brexit vote.
