Manning & Napier
Commentary
Europe Q&A
by Jeff Donlon of Manning & Napier,
European markets have been under pressure in recent years, however, the tide is turning for Europe and European equities. Jeff Donlon, CFA®, Managing Director of Manning & Napier’s Global Strategies Group, answers a few questions to help investors better understand our outlook on Europe.
Commentary
Three Reasons to Invest in International Small Cap Equities
by Jeffrey Ingraham of Manning & Napier,
Small, well-run companies exist all over the world providing investors with dynamic growth potential and attractive investment opportunities. Despite this, international small cap equities remain underinvested and largely overlooked by investors. WE believe there are unique benefits for investors when considering an allocation to international small cap equities.
Commentary
Trump and the Fiduciary Rule – Managing Uncertainty
by Shelby George of Manning & Napier,
With Donald Trump named president-elect, a number of current policies have been put into question – including the DOL’s Fiduciary Rule. While the rule is not set to take effect until April 2017, there is question as to whether Trump could halt its implementation.
Commentary
Tax Planning for the Trump Era
by Dana Vosburgh of Manning & Napier,
What does the most recent market activity signal for planning purposes and navigating a new environment with Donald Trump as President? We discuss what Trump's victory means for your taxes.
Commentary
Navigating New Regulations: Changes Employers can Expect
by Shelby George of Manning & Napier,
Come April 2017, many financial professionals will find themselves acting as an ERISA-like fiduciary. The new rule broadens the definition of “investment advice” to impose ERISA-like fiduciary obligations on all advisors to qualified retirement plans as well as IRAs and other tax-deferred accounts, such as Health Savings Accounts.
Commentary
DOL’s Fiduciary Rule Poses New Litigation Threat to IRA Advice
by Shelby George of Manning & Napier,
401(k) lawsuits have been a large topic of conversation in the retirement planning space, however the conversation is starting to take a different shape with the DOL’s Fiduciary Rule.
Commentary
Britons Vote in Favor of Brexit
by Ben Rozin of Manning & Napier,
Recently, citizens of the United Kingdom (UK) collectively voted in favor of leaving the European Union (EU). Now begins the process of negotiating a withdrawal accord and the terms of the UK’s relationship with the political-economic bloc, including 80,000 pages of EU trade agreements. This will likely take a minimum of two years, but the exact timing ultimately depends on how the negotiations play out. During this time, Britain will continue to abide by EU treaties and laws, but will not take part in any decision-making on behalf of the union. We outline what it means from an investment perspective, short-term, and what we can expect to see in the future.
Commentary
Disruptive Innovation: The New Normal
by Team of Manning & Napier,
The current economic and market environment is not one in which a rising tide of economic growth will lift all ships; actually, its quite the opposite. As businesses compete, the winners will largely succeed at the expense of the losers. Consider recent examples such as Nokia and BlackBerry; both companies once widely recognized as dominating their respective markets, only to be disrupted by innovative competitors.
Commentary
Clarity in Emerging Markets: Indonesian Election Outcome
by Team of Manning & Napier,
On July 9th, Indonesians turned out en mass for the countrys national election. The contest pitted the young governor of Jakarta, Joko Widodo (Jokowi), against a former general and businessman, Prabowo Subianto.
Commentary
The Potential Impacts of Geopolitical Risks on Financial Markets
by Team of Manning & Napier,
As a global investment management firm, it is critically important that we monitor any and all varieties of risk that could threaten the performance of financial markets both domestically and abroad. Today, developments in a number of regions, particularly the Middle East and Eastern Europe, have brought geopolitical risk to the forefront of our minds. Below we describe some of the issues, why risks are rising, and how they may impact financial markets.
Commentary
The Bank of Englands Balancing Act
by Team of Manning & Napier,
The United Kingdom (U.K.) has recently been a subject of increased attention in the media and investment circles. An improving economyparticularly relative to its Eurozone neighborshas provided a reason for optimism among economists and investors alike. However, rapidly rising home prices and accommodative monetary policy have also raised potential red flags.
Commentary
High Frequency Trading: Under the Spotlight
by Team of Manning & Napier,
The growing popularity of HFT is troubling; investors, media outlets, and academics alike are expressing concerns. We applaud any and all efforts that help to shine a light on HFT and its potential threat to the fair and orderly functioning of financial markets. While it remains to be seen if action will be taken against HFT, it is encouraging that ongoing research and dialogue on the subject is catching the broader attention of regulatory bodies that are tasked with preserving the levels of transparency and fairness that all market participants benefit from.
Commentary
India: Poised for Change?
by Team of Manning & Napier,
In the current slow growth environment, India?s economy will likely continue to feel the downward pressure being exerted by high interest rates and a more challenging global liquidity environment that has negatively impacted foreign capital flows into the country. Despite the challenging short-to-intermediate-term outlook, there are a number of internal dynamics, such as favorable demographics, improving labor productivity, and the potential for tremendous growth in domestic consumption, which provide the opportunity for more robust growth in the future.
Commentary
A Closer Look at Japanese Yen Depreciation and its Impact on Growth and Equities
by Manning & Napier,
Weakness in the Japanese economy has given investors reason for concern. Recently released data showed that GDP grew just 0.2% quarter-over-quarter (qoq) during the last three months of 2013. This worked out to be a qoq annualized rate of merely 0.7%, and marked the second consecutive quarter of weaker growth relative to the preceding periods. Growth in the country has softened despite significant monetary and fiscal stimulus, and it is especially concerning considering that an impending tax increase (April 2014) has pulled some consumption forward.
Commentary
Emerging Markets: Distinguishing Opportunities
by Manning & Napier,
The recent sell-off in emerging market currencies and equities is part of a broader move that has seen the asset class heavily underperform developed markets since mid-2012. Part of the underperformance can be attributed to disappointing economic performance, as actual growth in the emerging markets (EMs) has come in much lower than broader consensus expectations.
