EU "shadow banking" plan rapped The Institutional Money Market Funds Association is consulting its members on alternative measures that could limit investors" ability to withdraw all their money overnight, or force them to take a loss, in the event of another financial crisis Synthetic ETFs get thumbs down Almost a third of European investment managers surveyed by Edhec-Risk Institute rated synthetic ETFs as poor quality indicating, according to Edhec, that the recent debate over their safety has coloured opinions and has led to confusion over how the products are constructed, as physical ETFs also expose investors to counterparty risk European fund mergers stall European asset managers should be able to merge funds across national borders under new regulations without triggering prohibitive tax liabilities, but have been scared away from doing so by a 2010 report issued by the European Fund and Asset Management Association, according to Ernst & Young Behind the profit rises at UK fund managers UK managers reported some steep rises in pre-tax profits despite disappointing results for assets under management. Steve Johnson finds out why Banks, bonuses and bad accountancy Given the critical role of the auditor in underpinning the integrity of the capitalist system, the technical stuff really matters, writes John Plender, who thinks institutional investors input has been worryingly little on the issue Property specialist eyes distressed opportunities Forum Partners is rethinking its business because of the opportunities to make money in recession-hit Europe, says managing director Russell Platt Nest risks being strangled at birth There is a cap on annual contributions that can be paid into Nest (the UK's coming auto-enrolment pension scheme) and a ban on transfers in. But competing pension schemes face no restrictions, says Pauline Skypala, who thinks the cap should be removed This entry was posted by Emma Boyde on Sunday, March 25th, 2012 at 18:20 and is filed under Uncategorised.