Equities continued to make new highs as we moved into 2017, but we are mindful that the outlook is littered with macro-economic and political risks – not least the forthcoming elections in France, Holland and Germany, Article 50, and President Donald Trump.

Nomura Asset Management Co., Ltd., the core company within the Asset Management Division of the Nomura Group, announced a plan to launch a new exchange traded fund (ETF) designed to track the performance of the “Nikkei 225 High Dividend Yield Stock 50 Index”.

Today, Agence France Trésor announced the successful launch of the first French sovereign green bond with a maturity of 22 years. The Green OAT 1.75% 25 June 2039 issuance amount was €7bn, making it the largest and longest-dated green bond ever issued.

The Preqin All-Strategies Hedge Fund benchmark posted returns of 7.40% in 2016, marking the best performance year for the industry since 2013 and more than tripling the gains made through 2015 (+2.03%). Despite a volatile start to the year which caused some performance difficulties, hedge funds rebounded to post positive returns in nine of the final 10 months of the year.

Mount Street is pleased to announce the successful agreement with Erste Abwicklungsanstalt (EAA) to acquire EAA Portfolio Advisors (EPA). At the end of 2009, EAA was created as the Asset Management Company/"bad bank” to manage the assets of the former WestLB AG.