A net zero alliance for asset managers has resurrected itself after shelving its work last year amid a wave of US defections.The Net Zero Asset Managers initiative now has more than 250 signatories, including Aberdeen Investments and Amundi SA, as well as the European and UK entities of T. Rowe Price Group Inc. and Wellington Management, according to a statement on Wednesday. NZAM suspended its operations in January 2025, announcing at the time that it would conduct a review to ensure it remained “fit for p ...

The India Fund, Inc. (IFN) Announces Name Change [Accessibility Statement] Skip NavigationPHILADELPHIA, Feb. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of [The India Fund, Inc.](IFN) has approved a name change for the Fund, to be effective February 27, 2026, as set forth below.The Funds' ticker symbol, CUSIP, and investment manager are not changing. Aberdeen will continue to manage the Fund, as it has since December 2011.TickerCurrent NameNew NameCUSIPNYSE: IFNThe India Fund, Inc.Aberdeen India Fund, I ...

Core Viewpoint - Japanese stocks are experiencing record highs following Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's landslide victory, which is expected to lead to a weaker yen, rising equities, and higher government bond yields due to her dovish monetary policy stance and anticipated fiscal stimulus [1][3][4]. Group 1: Election Results and Market Reactions - Takaichi's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) secured a supermajority with 316 seats, marking the largest election victory since World War Two, allowing her to push her legislative agenda more effectively [2]. - The Nikkei 225 index surpassed 57,000, reaching a record high, while the Topix index also hit an all-time peak of 3,825.67, exceeding pre-election expectations [4]. - Analysts believe the strong LDP win will enable more growth-friendly policies, boosting investor sentiment [4][5]. Group 2: Fiscal Policy and Bond Market Implications - Takaichi's victory is expected to revive the "Takaichi trade," characterized by a weaker yen and rising long-dated government bond yields, reflecting her dovish monetary policy [3]. - The yield on the 10-year Japanese government bond rose by 4 basis points to 2.27% following the election, indicating potential pressure on bonds due to increased government spending [6]. - Takaichi announced a record budget of 122 trillion yen for the upcoming financial year, marking a second consecutive year of record spending [6]. Group 3: Debt Concerns and Currency Movements - Japan's debt-to-GDP ratio is nearly 230%, making it the most indebted nation globally, which raises concerns about fiscal sustainability [7]. - Despite expectations of increased spending, Takaichi indicated that newly issued government bonds would remain below 30 trillion yen for the second consecutive year [13]. - Interestingly, the yen strengthened by 0.4% to 156.55 against the dollar after the election, reflecting Takaichi's commitment to fiscal sustainability [14].

Core Viewpoint - The current commodities cycle is characterized by a significant supply shortage, differing from the previous cycle driven by China's growth. Precious metals like silver, platinum, and palladium are experiencing unique dynamics due to their supply-demand fundamentals and geopolitical factors [2][3]. Supply and Demand Dynamics - The average mine takes over 15 years to develop from discovery to production, leading to long cycles in commodities. Current supply deficits for silver and platinum have persisted for five and three years, respectively, indicating strong demand [2][3]. - Precious metals have shown resilience amid geopolitical uncertainties, with silver, platinum, and palladium outperforming gold in the previous year before experiencing a recent selloff [3]. Investment Strategies - Financial advisors recommend that gold should form the foundation of precious metal investments, comprising at least 50% of the allocation, with silver, platinum, and palladium added in smaller amounts based on risk tolerance [8][11]. - The volatility of silver, platinum, and palladium necessitates closer monitoring and rebalancing of portfolios compared to gold, which is viewed as a more stable investment [6][12]. Market Characteristics - Silver is often referred to as "poor man's gold" and has industrial applications that influence its price, while platinum and palladium are primarily used in industrial applications like catalytic converters [5]. - The markets for silver, platinum, and palladium are smaller and more prone to price swings, making them more volatile than gold [6]. Investment Vehicles - Most advisors prefer using exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for precious metals investments due to compliance risks associated with physical metals. However, some clients opt for physical metals for peace of mind [13]. - Investing in gold mining stocks is considered more straightforward than for silver, platinum, and palladium, which have fewer publicly traded pure-play miners [14][15].

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Aberdeen Investments U.S. Closed-End Funds (NYSE: ASGI, THQ), (the "Funds" or individually the "Fund"), today announced that the Funds paid the distributions noted in the table below on January 30, 2026, on a per share basis to all shareholders of record as of January 23, 2026 (ex-dividend date January 23, 2026). | Ticker | Exchange | Fund | Amount | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | ASGI | NYSE | abrdn Global Infrastructure Income Fund | $ 0.2100 | | THQ | NYSE | a ...

Core Insights - The VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX) and abrdn Physical Platinum Shares ETF (PPLT) provide different exposures to precious metals, with GDX focusing on gold mining companies and PPLT offering direct exposure to platinum's spot price [2] Cost & Size - GDX has an expense ratio of 0.51% and assets under management (AUM) of $30.36 billion, while PPLT has a higher expense ratio of 0.60% and AUM of $3.52 billion [3] - The one-year return for GDX is 185.16%, compared to PPLT's 190.64% [3] Performance & Risk Comparison - Over the past five years, GDX experienced a maximum drawdown of -46.52%, while PPLT had a lower maximum drawdown of -35.73% [5] - An investment of $1,000 in GDX would have grown to $2,587, whereas the same investment in PPLT would have grown to $2,133 over five years [5] Portfolio Composition - PPLT holds physical platinum, making it one of the older options in its niche with a 16-year track record [6] - GDX tracks an index of global gold mining companies, with top holdings including Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd., Newmont Corp., and Barrick Mining Corp. [7] Dividend Yield - GDX offers an annual dividend yield of 0.59%, while PPLT currently provides no dividend yield [8][9] Market Context - Investing in precious metals is often viewed as a hedge against the U.S. dollar, with prices typically rising during economic uncertainty [10] - Platinum is estimated to be at least 10 times rarer than gold, which may contribute to its long-term value appreciation [10]

Core Viewpoint - The abrdn Global Premier Properties Fund has announced a 1-for-3 reverse stock split to potentially enhance its market price per share, attract a broader range of investors, and improve liquidity [1][2]. Fund Details - The reverse stock split will convert every three shares of the Fund's outstanding common shares into one common share, maintaining the total value of shareholders' investments and the Fund's portfolio [3]. - Post-split, shareholders will have fewer shares but with a higher share price and net asset value per share, preserving their percentage ownership in the Fund [3]. Distribution Adjustments - Following the reverse stock split, the Fund's monthly distribution will increase from $0.04 per share to $0.12 per share, ensuring no change in monthly cash flow to shareholders [4]. Trading Information - The reverse stock split is expected to be completed before the NYSE trading opens on February 9, 2026, with shares continuing to trade under the ticker symbol AWP [5]. - A new CUSIP number will be assigned to the Fund's shares, and no fractional shares will be issued; any resulting fractional shares will be aggregated and sold, with proceeds distributed to shareholders [6]. Company Background - Aberdeen Investments is a major asset management firm with approximately $515 billion in assets under management as of September 30, 2025, and has extensive experience managing closed-end funds [10]. - The firm manages 15 U.S. closed-end funds and 13 non-U.S. closed-end funds, totaling $26.1 billion in assets as of the same date [11].

Core Viewpoint - The comparison between the Abrdn Physical Silver Shares ETF (SIVR) and the Abrdn Physical Platinum Shares ETF (PPLT) highlights differences in cost, asset management, risk profiles, and returns for investors considering silver versus platinum investments [1][2]. Cost and Size Comparison - SIVR has a lower expense ratio of 0.30% compared to PPLT's 0.60%, making it more appealing for long-term investors focused on minimizing fees [4][11]. - As of January 9, 2026, SIVR has a total asset under management (AUM) of $5.43 billion, significantly larger than PPLT's $2.86 billion [3][11]. Performance and Risk Metrics - Over the past year, SIVR has returned 162.9%, outperforming PPLT's 135.6% return [3]. - The maximum drawdown over the past five years for SIVR is -38.61%, while PPLT's is -35.73%, indicating that SIVR has experienced slightly higher volatility [6]. Fund Structure and Holdings - Both SIVR and PPLT are physically backed ETFs, meaning they hold the actual metals (silver and platinum) in secure vaults, providing direct commodity exposure without the complexities of storage and insurance [10][12]. - PPLT is a single-asset ETF focused solely on platinum, while SIVR tracks the price of silver, with both funds lacking sector exposure or notable top holdings [7][8]. Market Dynamics and Demand - Silver benefits from dual demand as both an investment asset and an industrial metal, particularly in solar panels and electronics, contributing to its higher returns [10]. - Platinum's price movements are influenced by supply constraints and automotive demand, making it a more volatile investment option [12].

Core Viewpoint - Global credit markets are experiencing their highest activity in two decades, with significant money managers warning against complacency regarding risks in the market [1][2]. Group 1: Market Conditions - Yield premiums on corporate debt have decreased to just over one percentage point, the lowest since June 2007, reflecting confidence in the economic outlook [1]. - The new issue concession for US companies is only 0.013 percentage points higher than existing bonds, significantly lower than the average of about 3 basis points from the previous year [4]. - Companies issued approximately $435 billion in bonds in the first half of January, a record for that period and over a third higher than last year's figures [9]. Group 2: Risk Factors - Money managers are facing a paradox where they want to participate in the market rally but must accept lower compensation for the risks associated with unpredictable US policy and geopolitical tensions [2][5]. - Barclays Plc's risk complacency signal in the US debt market reached 93%, the highest since December 2024, driven by bullish equities positioning and lower high-yield return volatility [3]. - There is a concern that the current tight credit spreads do not adequately account for geopolitical risks, as highlighted by investment professionals [7]. Group 3: Investment Strategies - Many money managers are continuing to invest in the rally, partly due to expectations of interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve, which could support the global economy [5]. - Pacific Investment Management Co. is becoming more selective in fund deployment across credit markets due to expectations of deteriorating fundamentals [8]. - BlackRock Inc. is positioned to buy new deals while maintaining caution, emphasizing the need for returns despite the current market conditions [11].

Core Insights - The iShares Gold Trust (IAU) and abrdn Physical Platinum Shares ETF (PPLT) differ significantly in cost, assets under management, and recent performance, with IAU being more cost-effective and larger in scale, while PPLT has shown superior returns over the past year [1][3][4] Cost and Size Comparison - IAU has an expense ratio of 0.25%, while PPLT's is 0.60%, which could impact long-term investors [4] - IAU's assets under management (AUM) stand at $68.8 billion compared to PPLT's $2.86 billion, indicating a much larger scale for IAU [3][4] Performance and Risk Analysis - Over the past year, IAU delivered a return of 67.2%, while PPLT outperformed with a return of 135.6% [3] - The maximum drawdown over five years for IAU was -21.82%, compared to PPLT's -35.73%, suggesting IAU has experienced less volatility [5] Fund Composition - PPLT is focused on providing exposure to platinum, appealing to investors looking for diversification beyond gold, and has been operational for 16 years [6] - IAU offers exposure to physical gold, tracking gold's spot price minus its expense ratio, and is one of the largest gold ETFs available [9] Market Context - Both ETFs benefited from a significant rally in precious metals in 2025, driven by Federal Reserve rate cuts, inflation concerns, and substantial central bank gold purchases [8] - Platinum's performance was further boosted by supply shortages from South Africa and increasing industrial demand, particularly from hydrogen fuel cells [8][9] Investment Considerations - IAU is positioned as a lower-cost option with greater liquidity and a long-standing reputation as a stable monetary asset, while PPLT may appeal to those anticipating continued industrial demand for platinum despite its higher volatility [10]