THE BIG INTERVIEW

Matthew Shafer has joined Natixis Global Asset Management from Merrill Lynch as managing director of the UK retail business and global key accounts, replacing Ed Farrington.

Aberdeen Asset Management is launching two bond funds for its Luxembourg range and an institutional property fund investing in European real estate.

iShares has streamlined its European ETF range and significantly reduced fees on a range of funds following the acquisition of Credit Suisse's ETF arm earlier this year.

Aberdeen Asset Management has seen net outflows of £1.2bn in the two months to 31 August, pushing AUM down 4% over the period.

iShares has launched two interest rate-hedged ETFs in a bid to offer investors exposure to corporate bonds while mitigating the risk of rising benchmark yields.

Chelsea Financial Services and Albemarle Street Partners are to launch a fund rating service early next year, targeting consumers as well as advisers and rivalling a number of existing agencies.

US hedge funds moved to snap up shares in Lloyds Banking Group overnight as the UK government put its 6% stake up for sale in a move to begin privatising the bank.

LEHMANS SPECIAL

UBS Global Asset Management has reduced the charges across its exchange traded funds (ETFs) range, as pricing pressures on ETFs escalate.