Fidelity Launches Emerging Europe, Middle East, Africa Fund

Fidelity Investments launched a new international equity fundâ€″Fidelity Emerging Europe, Middle East, Africa (EMEA) Fundâ€″with retail and adviser share classes.

Fidelity EMEA Fund seeks capital appreciation and normally invests at least 80% of its assets in securities of emerging Europe, Middle East, and Africa issuers and other investments that are tied economically to the EMEA region, according to a press release. The fund compares its performance to the MSCI Emerging Markets Europe, Middle East and Africa (MSCI EMEA) Index.

Adam Kutas, a 12-year Fidelity veteran who previously co-managed Fidelity Latin America Fund, manages the EMEA fund from Fidelity Management and Research Company’s London office.

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Kutas cited a number of factors to why the fund will be beneficial for some clients: “First, there are an ever-growing number of EMEA companies with solid earnings growth that, importantly, now represent significant market capitalization. Second, we’ve found that many of these EMEA companies are under-researched and under-followed by investors. And third, we’ve assembled a dedicated team of analysts here in London that provides us with extensive resources to closely cover the region across its many different market sectors, including energy, financials, telecommunications, materials, and health care, among others.”

EMEA forms a contiguous region that combines more than 80 countries beginning with Russia in the East, continuing through Eastern Europe and the Middle East, and encompassing the entire African continent, Fidelity said.

Kutas added that the long term macro trends in the EMEA region—global demand for oil and natural resources, rapid urbanization, infrastructure investment, and consumer growth—offer substantial growth opportunities over the long term.

For more information, visit https://advisor.fidelity.com.

Investors Need to Fix Fixed Income Strategies

Many consumers have misconceptions about the use of fixed-income investments, according to a survey from E*TRADE Securities LLC.

According to an E*TRADE press release, while most (65%) survey respondents agree fixed income is an important part of a well-diversified portfolio, those who do not hold fixed-income investments say:

  • Fixed income is more important during times of volatility (58%);
  • Fixed income is an investment tool only for retired people (45%);
  • Buying and selling fixed income is a complex process (36%).

“Fixed income is indeed a key component of most well-diversified portfolios, yet we continue to see hesitation and misperceptions perpetuated among investors, signaling a need for better education, tools and access to fixed-income securities and information,” said Michael Curcio, Managing Director, E*TRADE Securities LLC, in the release.

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The survey also found that the majority (52%) of fixed-income investors prefer commission-based agency pricing similar to equity trade pricing.

As a result of its findings, E*TRADE said it has upgraded its Bond Center to deliver more education and transparent pricing.

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