Finews.asia's Most-Read Stories of 2019

Finews.asia's Most-Read Stories of 2019

As the year wraps up, finews.asia team looks into the ten most well-read stories amongst our readers. Judging by the categories, it appears that our readers love articles about high-profile moves and interesting thought pieces.

10. Almost-CEO Andrea Orcel to Fight

Andrea Orcel (pictured above) the Victim, or Andrea Orcel the Fighter? Although the plan to take the top job at Santander collapsed, and the almost-CEO wants to fight back by suing the bank for breach of contract. If the lawsuit fails to deliver what he needs, Orcel may find consolation in the fact that there is enough audience (at least on finews.asia) to make it to a New York Times' Best Seller. Read the story here.

9. Neal Cross Exits DBS

The move of an innovation head at a big bank has to make a big bang, right? The exit, as well as the resurfacing of Neal Cross (pictured above), clocked nearly as many views as some celebrities' marriage and divorce drama. After five years and countless prizes for the Singapore-based bank's digital efforts, read Cross' last words at DBS, along with his famous quote: «So long, and thanks for all the fish» here.

8. The Stock Guru - An Endangered Species

Edouard Carmignac in 2008 weathered the storm thanks to risky bets and won many admirers. At the age of 71, he plans to focus on the investment strategy of his asset management firm based in Paris. In 2016, Mark Moebius, the emerging markets expert, handed over responsibility for the fund business, introducing a younger generation into the business. Warren Buffett (Berkshire Hathaway) and Larry Fink (Blackrock, pictured above) are also known to be looking for successors. 

So the question now is: who will follow in their footsteps? Or is the traditional stock market guru about to die out?  It isn’t just about demographics that the list of professional investors is shortening. The investment business as a whole is undergoing a fundamental change. Read how the seismic shift in the business may remove the financial clout of acclaimed experts here.

7. Pictet Downplays Collardi Effect

Nicolas Pictet, senior partner of the eponymous Swiss private bank, does not like to rock the boat even when someone high-profile is joining the firm. According to «Neuen Zuercher Zeitung» (behind paywall), he insisted the firm «won't change anything that distinguishes us and feeds our success».

The statement is in response to the noise around Boris Collardi (pictured above), Pictet's newest partner and former CEO of Julius Baer. Shortly after joining the Genevan rival last summer, star banker Collardi began luring ex-associates to Pictet – breaking with a centuries-old tradition of diffidence among Geneva's private banks. Read about Collardi's gains here.

6. LGT Capital Partners: News Affects Investors Like a Magnet

Our readers must love how theories in physics can be applied to the markets. The physical model that explains ferromagnetism can also be used to predict market developments, according to Stefano Lecchini (pictured above), portfolio manager at LGT Capital Partners. He explains how a team at his firm developed a very detailed, dynamic model for investor sentiment à la Ising here.