It was the night before Christmas And all the stock markets were closed Fund managers finally got to rest And the Traders gently dozed No more economic forecasts to be made No more commentaries to write For all the world’s financial folk It was a truly silent night But off in the distance you couldContinue reading “The Central Bankers’ Christmas Party 2025”
Author Archives: Eugene Kiernan
What do Irish Investors Want?
So the Central Bank of Ireland has produced a very solid research piece providing a snapshot of what Irish investors want and where they are putting their money. Firstly it’s a lot of money! The net wealth of Irish households has more than doubled in the last decade to €1,288bn. The headline conclusions from theContinue reading “What do Irish Investors Want?”
Just what are Investment Managers thinking?
What’s top of mind for investment managers today? There’s clearly a lot to consider. On the positive side, economies are holding up (for now). Company profits seem resilient, interest rates may have further to fall, markets have been making all time highs. But on the other hand, there is unprecedented uncertainty around issues like tradeContinue reading “Just what are Investment Managers thinking?”
Mind the Gap
Deciding where to invest isn’t easy. Should it be in stocks or bonds? Should you consider property or maybe alternative assets like private equity or credit? What about including an environmental aspect to your investment planning? But even when you think you’ve got that figured out, there’s the question of who you invest with. This can oftenContinue reading “Mind the Gap”
Grinding out a Result
This year the average Irish Pension fund peaked in February, and is only now clawing its way back to that level. In the mean-time, it had slumped by about 15% from that peak until it bottomed in early April, recovering all the lost ground. So year to date the average pension fund is just now edgingContinue reading “Grinding out a Result”
Selecting a Fund Manager: Getting it right matters….not getting it wrong matters even more!
Choosing the right asset or region is clearly a significant part of any investment decision. But selecting the right manager to make all these decisions is arguably equally, if not more, important. This applies predominantly to the active space but there can also be nuances in indexed investment solutions. I looked at some MoneyMate statisticsContinue reading “Selecting a Fund Manager: Getting it right matters….not getting it wrong matters even more!”
European Asset Management: Fast Forward Five Years
On the face of it, investment managers seem to be having a better time of it of late. The group has recovered from the April decline, when according to the Bank of America survey, sentiment towards the global asset management industry was at a 30 year low. The recovery since then means many are postingContinue reading “European Asset Management: Fast Forward Five Years”
Markets: Uncertainty, Volatility and Risk – What’s the Story?
A constant theme for investors in 2025 has been the disconnect between what’s been happening in the real world of politics and policy, and how financial markets have responded. The chaos of constant policy shifts has to date been weathered by financial markets, with stock indices not far off all-time highs. This can only beContinue reading “Markets: Uncertainty, Volatility and Risk – What’s the Story?”
How are Irish Investment Managers managing?
Most Investment Managers acknowledge that these are tricky times for their funds and their customers. Words like “unprecedented”, “new global order” or “seismic shift” are to the fore in managers’ commentaries. And rightly so. The risk of escalation in trade wars and real wars remains a huge threat and leaves us in an environment of likelyContinue reading “How are Irish Investment Managers managing?”
Time to re-visit Property as an Asset Class?
Just over 6 months ago, I posted a piece on Irish Commercial Property wondering if there was a case to include, or add to it, in your investment portfolio. So what’s been happening? The commentary so far this year coming from property managers talks of a stabilizing or a re-set for the Irish Commercial PropertyContinue reading “Time to re-visit Property as an Asset Class?”
Investment Managers in this Crisis: What are they saying; how are they doing?
How are investment managers faring in this current market crisis and what are they saying to their customers? Scrolling through the comments and advice that investment managers and financial advisors are giving currently reveals a broadly consistent message. I’ve looked through the comments and advice from firms based here or selling into the Irish market.Continue reading “Investment Managers in this Crisis: What are they saying; how are they doing?”
Credit Where it’s Due
There’s a lot going on at your local credit union today. Nearly 4 million of us are saving over €18bn with them, and they’re lending out over €7bn back into the local community. And there’s a lot of change within the sector. In the past 10 years or so we’ve seen the total number of unions halveContinue reading “Credit Where it’s Due”
Irish Funds: Where Are The Risks?
Last week the Central Bank of Ireland published a report on the key risks and trends shaping the financial sector. The Regulatory & Supervisory Outlook (RSO) report gives the Bank’s view on these risks and what they see as the key priorities to address them in the next two years. From this we get aContinue reading “Irish Funds: Where Are The Risks?”
What do Fund Investors really want?
Those well known investment experts, Simon and Garfunkel, way back in 1970 stressed the importance of keeping the customer satisfied. It’s a point that shouldn’t be lost on investment managers. I imagine most managers think they have a clear sense of what their customers want from them. Fact-finds, for example, may give them a good senseContinue reading “What do Fund Investors really want?”
Out of Office? Whats’s Next for Dublin Office Property?
Property investors believe (hope) that they have seen the bottom of the Irish commercial property market. And commercial property portfolios in Ireland today are still essentially driven by the performance of the office sector. I looked at the property exposure of the big institutional funds, including pension funds, and the office component of these portfoliosContinue reading “Out of Office? Whats’s Next for Dublin Office Property?”
Red Flags. Are Markets Risky Now?
Maybe it’s time for investors to be careful. The latest batch of annual outlook pieces from investment managers in the main stick to the tried and tested views of being cautiously optimistic, based on lower interest rates and still positive growth in economies. I agree we are likely to see somewhat lower interest rates and reasonable growthContinue reading “Red Flags. Are Markets Risky Now?”
China: More Risk than Return?
It used to be Top of Mind for investors. China was an economic power house driving global markets and commodities. Posting annual growth rates of 10% and more in the early 2000’s, the health of the Chinese economy was a critical box to tick in building a positive case for financial investors. Not any more.Continue reading “China: More Risk than Return?”
The Central Bankers’ Christmas Party
‘Twas the night before ChristmasSnow was falling and stars were brightThe economists were all tucked up in their bedsDreaming of all the forecasts they’d got right But off in the distance the silence was brokenWe heard glasses clink and saw lights flashThe music and mayhem could only mean one thingIt was the Central Bankers’ ChristmasContinue reading “The Central Bankers’ Christmas Party”
Irish Investment Managers: What’s Going On?
Asset Management is a great business. Though you might not know that from some of the numbers. Take a look at how many of the listed fund management groups have done in the UK so far this year compared to the average stock. Manager Share Performance Schroders -27% Aberdeen -20% Legal & General -11% M&GContinue reading “Irish Investment Managers: What’s Going On?”
Bonds: Boring or Ballistic? Time to think again?
For many investors, bonds are a substantial part of their allocation. They are seen as a stable asset class, offering some balance with other assets and reduced volatility – generally not meant to be the “exciting” part of the portfolio. Most Balanced Managed funds here in Ireland have an allocation to fixed income. I lookedContinue reading “Bonds: Boring or Ballistic? Time to think again?”
Tradewinds 