Net assets of UCITS and AIFs doubled over the last ten years, reaching EUR 20.7 trillion in 2023
Net assets of UCITS and AIFs doubled over the last ten years, reaching EUR 20.7 trillion in 2023
EFAMA's Annual Review highlights our key achievements over the past 12 months and provides a useful overview of the main topics we cover.
The Review is structured around the work of our Standing Committees and Taskforces. These bodies are the lifeblood of our Association as they develop sound, unified and evidence-based common positions around relevant EU/global initiatives and campaigns.
Improved Retail Investment Strategy approved but more work still to be done
Today, EU member states confirmed their position on the Retail Investment Strategy, following months of intensive negotiations under the Belgian Council Presidency. We welcome the decision to move away from banning commissions on execution-only transactions, which ensures that retail investors will still have access to direct distribution channels such as fund platforms.
European fund trends in Q1 2024 - EFAMA has today published its European Quarterly Statistical Release for Q1 of 2024.
Thomas Tilley, Senior Economist at EFAMA, commented: “Investors flocked into bond funds in anticipation of interest rate cuts. Net sales of bond funds (UCITS and AIFs) reached EUR 95 billion for the quarter, marking the highest volume of inflows since Q2 2017.”
EFAMA has published the latest Monthly Statistical Release for March 2024.
At the Roundtable on the distribution of retail investment products on 18 July 2023, the European Commissioner for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union, Mairead McGuinness, invited the European Banking Federation (EBF), the European Fund and Asset Management Association (EFAMA) and Insurance Europe to advance an industry-driven process to explore common solutions aimed at increasing retail participation in EU capital markets.
We were pleased to welcome the Polish Chamber of Fund and Asset Managers as an EFAMA member earlier this year. In the 11th issue of our “3 Questions 2” (3Q2) series, we spoke with Malgorzata Rusewicz, CEO of the Polish association, on the Polish asset management sector.
She answered the following questions:
1: What is the structure of the asset management industry in Poland?
The Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) has promoted transparency in sustainable finance, however its use by market participants as a de facto ESG labelling regime has stretched it beyond its original intentions and not always been helpful. The current European Commission review needs to address how SFDR can provide clearer, more meaningful information for retail investors, promote transition finance, and align well with other relevant legislation.
EFAMA is pleased to share its response to the ESMA Call for Evidence on shortening the settlement cycle. In light of the imminent US move to T1, EFAMA supports a timely transition to T1 for Europe, while calling for a dynamic roadmap which can be adapted and modified as lessons from the US migration become known.
As the US moves to a T+1 settlement cycle from May 2024, the settlement mismatch between the US and EU will raise operational challenges as well as, we suspect, market structure changes. But another direct consequence of the mismatch will be in the enforcement of current EU regulation. In this paper, we identify those scenarios where EU rules will be tested, suggest the scope of that impact and ask policymakers to explore how the regulatory impacts of US T+1 can be mitigated.
EFAMA appreciates the European Commission's efforts to bolster the Capital Markets Union and increase the appeal and competitiveness of public capital markets. However, the investment industry wishes to highlight some concerns concerning this Directive. Against this backdrop, it is important to note that the European Union has recently enhanced its corporate governance and shareholders’ engagement practices to fortify financial market stability, uphold capital market integrity and safeguard investors’ interests.
Discover the 6 reasons why your organisation should become a member of EFAMA.
Our members enjoy significant benefits including the opportunity to shape the industry positions, get first-hand access to regulatory and political intelligence, engage with industry peers and policymakers, and take part in EFAMA events.
Our three membership categories cater to the wide range of organisations that make up and support the investment management industry in Europe.
Trends in European investment funds (EFAMA Fact Book 2024 release on 18 JUN 2024)