Skip to main content

Asset Management

ADGM Assets Under Management Surge 54% as Abu Dhabi Licenses Hit 14,000

Image
ADGM Assets Under Management Surge 54% as Abu Dhabi Licenses Hit 14,000

Abu Dhabi – September 15, 2026 -- Assets under management at Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) climbed 54% year-on-year in the first half of 2026, while active business licenses reached 13,974, cementing the emirate's position as the largest international financial centre by license count in the MEASA region.

Fund manager base expands 23% as capital inflows accelerate

The number of fund and asset managers based at ADGM rose to 190, up from 154 in H1 2025, with 11 new managers added in the second quarter alone -- the sharpest quarterly increase on record for the centre. Funds domiciled at ADGM grew to 276, a 32% increase from 209 a year earlier. Collectively, asset managers that set up at ADGM during the period oversee more than $2.1 trillion in assets globally.

Aqua Raises $18.8M, Launches First Turnkey Alternatives Platform

Image
Aqua Raises $18.8M, Launches First Turnkey Alternatives Platform

New York – September 15, 2026 -- Aqua has raised $18.8 million in total funding and launched what it calls the industry's first turnkey alternative investments platform (TAIP), targeting wealth managers, RIAs, banks, trust companies and fund sponsors.

Aqua secures $3.8 million seed round backed by Google's AI Fund and Y Combinator

The seed round preceded a $15 million Series A led by Arthur Ventures, with participation from Alumni Ventures. Aqua plans to direct the capital toward accelerating platform development, expanding engineering and partnership teams, and deepening integrations with custodians and fund sponsors.

Empowered Funds to Liquidate Two Sophus Capital Emerging Market ETFs

Newtown Square, Pa. – September 12, 2026 -- Empowered Funds, LLC will liquidate two emerging-market exchange-traded funds on or about September 28, 2026, closing out the Sophus Capital Emerging Market ETF (NASDAQ: EMEM) and the Sophus Capital Emerging Market Small Cap ETF (NASDAQ: EMSC).

Two emerging-market ETFs will stop trading on NASDAQ September 25, 2026

Both funds will cease trading and close to new purchases immediately after the close of regular trading on September 25, 2026. Empowered Funds, doing business as ETF Architect, confirmed the funds will no longer accept creation or redemption orders after that date. Shareholders can sell holdings ahead of the liquidation date, though customary brokerage charges apply and the company warned that a liquid market for the shares during this window is not guaranteed. In the run-up to liquidation, the funds may hold elevated cash positions and deviate from their stated investment strategies.

Allspring CEO Kate Burke Named to P&I Influential Women List

Image
Allspring CEO Kate Burke Named to P&I Influential Women List

Charlotte, N.C. – September 11, 2026 -- Kate Burke, chief executive officer of Allspring Global Investments, has been named to Pensions & Investments' 2026 Influential Women in Institutional Investing list, while portfolio specialist Hannah Rosencrantz was recognized as a 2026 P&I Rising Star. Allspring manages more than $642 billion in assets under advisement as of June 30, 2026, across 18 global offices with over 360 investment professionals.

EQT AB Completes SEK 2.5bn Share Buyback, Hits Share-Count Cap

Stockholm – – September 10, 2026 -- EQT AB has completed its share buyback program after repurchasing 4,368,899 own ordinary shares for a total of SEK 1,448,620,146.93, the private equity firm confirmed.

EQT finalizes buyback authorization after hitting maximum share count

Between August 31 and September 4, 2026, EQT repurchased 707,203 ordinary shares (ISIN: SE0012853455) on Nasdaq Stockholm, closing out a program launched July 20, 2026. The initiative, announced May 12, 2026, authorized purchases of up to 4,368,899 shares for a maximum of SEK 2,500,000,000, carried out under the EU Market Abuse Regulation No 596/2014 and Commission Delegated Regulation No 2016/1052.

Money Market Fund Assets Climb $44.75 Billion to $7.98 Trillion

Image
Money Market Fund Assets Climb $44.75 Billion to $7.98 Trillion

Washington – September 08, 2026 -- Total money market fund assets rose by $44.75 billion to $7.98 trillion for the week ended September 2, according to the Investment Company Institute.

Government funds drive the bulk of the weekly inflow

Among taxable money market funds, government funds increased by $38.80 billion, while prime funds added $4.92 billion. Tax-exempt money market funds gained $1.03 billion over the same period.

Retail assets grow to $3.11 trillion on broad-based gains

Retail money market fund assets increased by $11.10 billion to $3.11 trillion. Within this segment, government fund assets rose $7.76 billion to $1.98 trillion, prime fund assets climbed $2.78 billion to $993.16 billion, and tax-exempt fund assets added $565 million to reach $137.92 billion.

Egan-Jones: Apple's AA+ Bonds Lose Half Value Despite Strong Credit

Image
Egan-Jones: Apple's AA+ Bonds Lose Half Value Despite Strong Credit

New York – September 03, 2026 -- Egan-Jones Ratings Co. has published an analysis showing how a fixed income investor can select a top-tier issuer, complete rigorous due diligence, and still lose roughly half of a position's value.

Apple's 2060 notes have fallen from par to about 51 cents on the dollar

The commentary centers on Apple's 2.55 percent senior notes due 2060, issued in August 2020 at approximately par. The bonds traded near 68 percent of par in December 2023 and have since dropped further, with a Frankfurt Stock Exchange quote of 50.92 on August 27, 2026. Egan-Jones attributes the decline to rising longer-term interest rates, a heavy supply of AI-related debt crowding the market, and broader investor unease, compounded by a security that was priced to perfection at issuance.

Yorkville America Launches FRUT ETF Blending AI Platforms and Chip Suppliers

MOUNTAINSIDE, N.J. -- September 01, 2026 -- Yorkville America Equities, LLC launched the Yorkville America MANGOS Plus Index ETF, trading under ticker FRUT on NYSE Arca and NYSE Texas, the firm announced Aug. 31, 2026. The fund combines six AI platform companies with seven hardware and infrastructure suppliers inside a single rules-based index, charging a 0.50% expense ratio with quarterly distributions. Tidal Investments, LLC serves as sub-adviser, and PINE Distributors LLC acts as distributor.

FRUT commits 80% of assets to twelve named AI companies

At least 80% of the fund's net assets go toward what Yorkville America calls the MANGO Plus Group: Meta Platforms, NVIDIA, Alphabet, SpaceX, OpenAI and Anthropic, plus SanDisk, Marvell, Micron, Intel, Dell, AMD and Broadcom. Exposure comes through direct holdings, private securities or total return swaps, with direct private-security holdings capped at 5% of net assets.

UTF Pays Entire August Distribution From Capital Gains

SHERIDAN, WYOMING -- August 28, 2026 -- Cohen & Steers Infrastructure Fund, Inc. (NYSE: UTF) will pay shareholders a monthly distribution of $0.1650 per share on August 31, 2026, funded entirely by net realized long-term capital gains, according to a Section 19(a) notice released by Cohen & Steers, Inc. on August 28. The New York-based fund reported zero contribution from net investment income, short-term gains, or return of capital for the August payment. Year-to-date through August 31, the fund has distributed $1.2900 per share, with $0.7259 (56.27%) sourced from long-term capital gains and $0.5641 (43.73%) from net investment income.

Cohen & Steers Fund FOF Pays Aug. Distribution, Zero Return of Capital

SHERIDAN, WYOMING -- August 28, 2026 -- Cohen & Steers Closed-End Opportunity Fund, Inc. (NYSE: FOF) will pay shareholders a monthly distribution of $0.0870 per common share on August 31, 2026, funded entirely by net investment income and realized capital gains, according to a Section 19(a) notice the company issued August 28. None of the payout came from return of capital, the notice showed. The disclosure covers the fund's fiscal year-to-date distributions through August 31, which total $0.6960 per share.

The August payment breaks down as $0.0342 per share, or 39.31%, from net investment income and $0.0528 per share, or 60.69%, from net realized long-term capital gains. No portion came from short-term gains or return of capital. Year-to-date, net investment income accounts for $0.2481 per share (35.65% of total distributions) while long-term gains make up $0.4479 per share (64.35%), with return of capital again at zero.