The Outlook 2024 conference, hosted by the Luxembourg Association of Structured Investment Products (LUXSIPA), brought together more than 130 finance professionals with an interest in structured products in Luxembourg on 8 February, 2024. The conference offered a comfortable and friendly environment for attendees to learn about solutions suited to the current macroeconomic situation. The conference started with a welcome message from Doris Engel, CFO Spuerkeess followed by Fabrice Todeschini who presented the achievements and future objectives of LUXSIPA. This was followed by a discussion between Arthur Van Slooten, Cross-Asset Strategist of SG CIB and Marco Paolucci, Head of Investments & Banking Products in Intesa SanPaolo Wealth Management Luxembourg, on several topics related to the economic context. In particular, the conversation focused on the trajectory of inflation and interest rates, the robustness of growth and the valuation of equities.

The conference was also an opportunity for Emmanual Rouby, Head of Structured Product desk Benelux in Société Générale to introduce finance professionals to Actively Managed Certificates (AMC). Those structured products replicate the performance of a portfolio of financial assets actively managed by a dedicated agent. They allow investors to participate in the performance of a dynamic strategy in an efficient framework, with a vast investment universe in a flexible and fully customisable instrument.

Samy Zergoun, Fixed Income Sales at BNP Paribas Arbitrage, then presented Reverse Convertibles on bonds, particularly well suited to the current macroeconomic context. This product enables investors to take advantage of high interest-rate volatility, thanks to an attractive guaranteed coupon and 100% repayment at a short maturity of 3 months, 6 months or 1 year if the yield on a government bond stays below a chosen strike rate. In the opposite case, investors are not repaid in cash but physically receive the government bond at the predetermined strike rate, with the advantage of obtaining an asset that is currently attractive to hold due to the high level of rates, and with the possibility of being repaid 100% at the bond’s maturity if the country’s issuer does not default.

The atmosphere was truly exceptional, and this event was much more than just a professional gathering. The lively discussions and fruitful exchanges created an environment conducive to building new professional connections. This event provided all attendees with the opportunity to forge bonds, exchange ideas, and share experiences in the field of structured products. The dynamic interactions and informal meetings helped enrich professional networks and strengthen future collaborations.