MiFID II: Clients' research charges seven times higher than costs borne by asset managers

Does it equate to superior performance?

Mike Sheen
clock • 2 min read

MiFID II rules regarding research costs - which force asset managers to choose whether to 'unbundle' research costs charged to clients or take the hit themselves - have seen fund charges for clients of asset managers in the former group reach up to 7.5 times that of those not charged for research.

      Under MiFID II, which came into force in January, asset managers must set budgets for investment research, leading most UK firms to take the cost on themselves, via their own profit-loss account. '10% rule' revamp and disclosure harmonisation: Industry eyes key areas for 'MiFID III' overhaul According to research by Frost Consulting, seen by the FT, emerging market equity funds charging clients for research are spending 7.5 times more on average compared to those that absorb the cost. For European equity and North American equity funds, the cost is 3.8 times and 2.7 ...

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