The long-term consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic for the European cross-border market are unknown, but the viral outbreak has already left its mark on the asset management industry. Cross-border managers face additional challenges, including squeezed margins, regulatory uncertainty, and Brexit. However, there are reasons for optimism, according to the latest Cerulli Edge — Europe Edition. 

Pension funds in the UK are being urged to step up their infrastructure investment, as speakers at a pensions conference this week emphasised the need to preserve the long-term sustainability of the UK economy.

High yield bonds are no longer rewarding duration and credit risk correctly, argues RWC Partners’ Justin Craib-Cox, and investors should consider using convertible bonds to earn equity-like returns as volatility continues to affect markets.

Genesis, a Low-Code Application Platform (LCAP), and Symphony Communication Services, have formed a strategic partnership to provide the financial markets community with interoperable technology and applications, built and deployed both securely and at speed. 

Copper Technologies, a London-based digital asset infrastructure provider, has appointed David L Shrier as a Non-Executive Director. He takes up his new role with immediate effect.

BondIT, an independent portfolio construction technology provider for fixed income, and Scorable, a provider of AI-driven credit analysis, are to merge and combine their technologies in a bid to transform fixed-income investing. 

Aegon Asset Management has appointed of Alexia Gottschalch as Managing Director and Head of Client Strategy, Global Real Assets.

Edinburgh based asset manager Aubrey Capital Management has appointed Camellia Huang as an Investment Analyst and Erin Elliot as Sales and Marketing support to strengthen its Investment and Marketing teams.

Fireblocks has raised USD30 million in Series B funding, bringing its cumulative fundraising to USD46 million. This round was led by Paradigm with participation from existing investors, Cyberstarts, Tenaya Capital, Swisscom, Galaxy Digital, Digital Currency Group (DCG), and Cedar Hill Capital. 

Consultancy firm Data-Xchange Technologies (Data-Xchange) is to become a full distribution partner for fintech Gresham Technologies in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).