Managers predict skill will win out
We asked managers to predict the year ahead across a range of credit strategies. Overall, they had a positive outlook. By Grace Jennings-Edquist

US pensions look beyond equities
US pension funds dramatically lowered their allocations to equity in the decade ending in 2016 as they diversified into illiquid and alternative assets. By Grace Jennings-Edquist

US power generators: Falling prices spark bankruptcies
As renewables and gas undercut traditional power generators, bond holders are preparing for price shocks. By Euan Hagger

Wells Fargo AM absorbs fixed income affiliate
First International Advisors, subadvisor to the Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund, has changed its legal name to Wells Fargo Asset Management (International), effective 31 January.

Morgan Stanley Wealth to trim hundreds of mutual funds from its platform
Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is preparing to pull around 600 mutual funds funds from its platform, Creditflux understands

Bill Barr steps down from Och-Ziff board as firm's new CEO is named
Och-Ziff has named a new chief executive officer to succeed Dan Och, with the firm announcing today that former Credit Suisse executive Robert Shafir will step into the position

New York fixed income specialist hires two marketing officials
Fixed income specialist Ryan Labs Asset Management, a member of the Sun Life Investment Management group, has made two senior hires to its marketing and client strategy team

Former Hartford ETF chief joins Chicago manager as head of funds
Northern Trust Asset Management has named Darek Wojnar, an exchange-traded fund (ETF) professional from Hartford Funds, as its head of funds and managed accounts

MidOcean nets $87.6 million in 12 months for credit opps fund
MidOcean Partners has raised more than $87 million in a year for its first Credit Opportunity IDF fund, regulatory filings indicate

Anchorage hooks itself a new issue CBO
The manager has launched the fifth in its series of CBO deals, according to market sources

Ropes & Gray announces 33 promotions including finance and hedge fund professionals
Law firm Ropes & Gray has promoted 33 lawyers to counsel of the firm, with the attorneys representing a range of practice groups including finance, investment management, hedge funds and private investment funds

Brigade co-founder to leave the firm
Brigade Capital Management's co-founder Pat Kelly is leaving the firm, according to market sources

Caryle's debut credit opportunities fund nets more than $1 billion
Carlyle Group has held a first close for its first credit opportunities fund at more than $1 billion, according to media reports – not bad for a vehicle formed last year

Willis Towers Watson fund exchange hires new US head in New York
Willis Towers Watson’s Asset Management Exchange (AMX), an institutional asset management marketplace, has appointed a new US head

JP Morgan AM launches new multi-asset investment trust
A manager's best mate is its fund: JP Morgan AM launches Multi-Asset Trust (Mate)

Fidelity launches investment grade bond fund
Toronto-based Fidelity Investments Canada ULC has launched an investment grade total bond fund in a bid to provide investors with a "fixed income solution that is flexible and can target multiple sources of income"

SSGA reports healthy income and AUM boost in Q4 2017
In its earnings release yesterday, Boston-headquartered State Street Global Advisors reported a rise in net income to $687 million for fourth quarter 2017, up from $648 a year earlier – a 19.1% increase

Lord Abbett names successor after managing partner announces retirement
Lord Abbett’s managing partner Daria Foster has announced her intention to retire – and now the New Jersey-based firm has confirmed a successor

Chenavari raises $120 million in a year for multi-strategy credit vehicle
Chenavari Investment Managers has raised almost $120 million in a year for its Cayman Islands-incorporated Chenavari Multi-Strategy Credit Fund, regulatory filings suggest

Oak Hill appoints sole head of European credit as ex-partner takes on new role
One of Oak Hill Advisors’ most senior staffers has stepped into a senior advisory role

Bitcoin-focused Denver manager markets two blockchain funds
Denver-based Salt Blockchain Asset Partners, which focuses on the digital asset sector, appears to be marketing two funds

Morgan Stanley's fixed income sales dramatically dip in Q4 earnings report
Morgan Stanley's sales and trading net revenues took a dip in 2017, with fixed income net revenues in particular down 31% compared to 2016 figures

CEO of Blackstone's hedge fund solution platform steps aside
Blackstone has announced that J Tomilson Hill, president and chief executive officer of Blackstone Alternative Asset Management (BAAM), will be transitioning to a new role as chairman of BAAM

Goldman earnings reveal 18% decrease in institutional client services revenue
The Goldman Sachs group has reported mixed results in its latest earnings release, revealing a dip in institutional client services revenue in 2017 compared to the prior year, but overall net revenues of $32 billion for 2017