Valletta Fund Management Limited held its third quarter educational seminar for Bank of Valletta licensed financial representatives at the Radisson Blu Resort and Spa Golden Sands last month.
Kenneth Farrugia, Chief Officer − Fund Business, opened the seminar by highlighting VFM’s key business initiatives. He said VFM had carried out a review of its current range of investment solutions, which now fall under five distinct categories of investment solutions, namely Liquidity Solutions, Income Solutions, Income and Growth Solutions, Growth Solutions and Total Return Solutions. He added that, “VFM will continue to offer new and innovative investment solutions in order to address the changing investor preferences and requirements and at the same time consolidate its existing range of investment solutions where necessary”.
During his presentation on International Markets, Mark Vella, Head of Business Development at VFM, outlined how in times of difficult worldwide economic conditions, investment opportunities still exist. He said that “despite an environment of political and economic uncertainty, three main investment themes will remain persistent, being most economic activity will continue; population growth and productivity improvements will improve growth potential globally and finally, during difficult economic times innovation and new competition is a persistent feature of free enterprise, whether it involves products, services or business models”. Mr Vella also addressed how investors are dominated today by significant and potentially destabilizing economic issues such as the economic slowdown in China, the US political stalemate and the eurozone crisis, which ultimately form part of the worldwide economic issues that cloud the investor’s decision.
David Pace Ross from BOV’s Financial Markets Unit gave a review of the local market of the past three months and said that while the European economy remains under pressure, the local economy seems to remain stable. Mr Pace Ross explained how results show that local companies are still performing and adapting to the changing environment and hence, selective equities within the local market remain attractive.
Mark Agius, Head of VFM, touched on the main advantages that investment funds offer, these being diversification, professional research and investment expertise and accessibility. Mr Agius concluded the seminar by outlining VFM’s growth in business between January 2012 and June 2012 where assets under management grew by 3.78 per cent to €676 million (as at 30th June 2012).
Such seminars are organised by VFM on a quarterly basis to keep BOV licensed personnel abreast of the changes in the local and international market as well as on the performance of the VFM range of funds.