The success of an investment is increasingly defined not just by risk and return but also its impact on society. Silvia Pavoni talks to the investors that demand purpose along with profit, and that are bringing about a revolution in the process.
The funding of infrastructure projects by institutional investors is a topic being hotly debated right now. While the hurdles for institutional parties looking at such opportunities are many, there is a growing feeling that in such a low-interest-rate environment, their potentially high yields make them worth the risk and effort.
Political tensions continue to dog Russia's capital markets. Following a difficult few months, the shoots of a recovery seemed to be appearing until the US imposed another round of sanctions on the country and a deadly attack on a commercial airliner flying over a disputed region of Ukraine sparked fresh hostilities, jeopardising the market's fragile rebound.
Low volatility and low yields are making life tricky for structured product providers. But by broadening their range of products and by doing more to tap upcoming markets, such as Asia, they have been able to ensure they get plenty of business.
Index-based structured products have grown in popularity since the financial crisis, as investors have sought flexible and bespoke ways to gain exposure to certain assets. And while the threat of tougher regulation looms, bankers are confident it will not slow down the market.
JPMorgan has sought to maintain hard-won expertise even during the near closure of European equity capital markets in late 2011 and early 2012. Its regional co-head of equity capital markets explains how continuity has set it up well to capture a nascent revival of new issues.
Whether it is algorithmic models or simple pay-offs based on baskets of currencies, currency trades are proving to be increasingly popular with buyers of structured products looking to complement their equities, commodities and fixed-income investments. Writer Michael Marray
With a few deals signalling the resuscitation of the global asset-backed securities market, bankers say it is gingerly getting back on its feet. But it faces a barrage of political, regulatory and accounting constraints that will make any recovery slow and painful. Writer Suzanne Miller
Active in 23 countries, the UK’s Tullow Oil is now targeting the African market, a policy which took a huge leap forward in January with its $1.5bn purchase of Heritage Oil’s Ugandan assets, the funds for which were raised by an accelerated bookbuild that was completed in just over a week.
The successful debt restructuring by Ukraine's gas importer has eased short-term difficulties and offered hope for better government and corporate financial management in the future. However, the country's track record of disappointment in such matters still hangs heavy. Writer Philip Alexander