Geneva University Investment Club

This Wednesday, the GUIC held its last session of the semester. During this session, members gathered for a potluck and participated in our traditional Secret Santa exchange. It was around the potluck that our departing members shared a few words about their time with the GUIC and their future plans. A big thank you to Rafael Calado, our president, Jeremy Toth, our portfolio manager, Loula Abraha, our communications manager, Trasatti Nelson, our head of the commodities department and Timour Kisrawi and Jun Robert-Nicoud for their participation throughout this semester and past semesters!

Last Thursday, the GUIC had the pleasure of hosting its first event in partnership with Vontobel. During this conference, Yassine Ben Hamida, Michael Foeth and Petter Stengard discussed various challenges and opportunities related to artificial intelligence in the world of finance. Following a Q&A session, we continued the conversation over an aperitif. A big thank you to them for leading this insightful conference!

How is AI reshaping investment strategies? This was the central question of our conference with the Geneva University Investment Club last week. It was an honor to introduce two remarkable colleagues, Michael Foeth and Petter Stengard, for an inspiring evening that blended academic curiosity with industry expertise. Together, we explored how cutting-edge technologies are revolutionizing the financial landscape. Michael Foeth, our Senior Equity Research Analyst, highlighted AI as a major technological inflection point and its impact on the semiconductor industry. His insights depicted both the opportunities and challenges brought by this transformative tech. Petter Stengard, our Chief Data Scientist, demonstrated how AI enhances Factor Investing. Drawing on over 25 years of expertise in AI and data science, he showcased how Vontobel leverages predictive analytics and innovative data strategies to deliver value-drive solutions. This event was a powerful reminder of AI’s incredible potential and the value of bridging academic rigor with practical application. A big thank you to Michael and Petter for their inspiring contributions, and to all the attendees for making this a truly memorable evening.

Last week, our semi-annual General Assembly took place, marking an important moment for the association. An impressive 21 members applied for positions within the organization. The committee warmly thanks all its members for their dedication and motivation, which continue to foster the growth of the GUIC and bring our motto to life: "Progress, Motivation & Ambition."

On Thursday, December 5, our members had the pleasure of celebrating the 15th anniversary of the GUIC, surrounded by alumni. During this dinner, current members had the opportunity to engage with alumni, discussing their professional journeys and reflecting on how the GUIC has impacted their lives. A big thank you to all the members and alumni who attended this special occasion and for contributing to the GUIC's success.

Last week marked the final presentation of the semester, led by the commodities department. They delivered an insightful analvsis of the Coconasset, providing an in-depth overview of the cocoa market. During the session, Adama Bodian also shared a macroeconomic update, followed by the usual portfolio review. To wrap up the session in style, our youngest and oldest members managed to break the "marmite en chocolat", a perfect nod to the theme of the day!

Public event: How is AI transforming tomorrow’s investment choices? The Geneva University Investment Club (GUIC) is proud to invite you to an exceptional evening marking the beginning of a prestigious partnership with Vontobel a renowned Swiss financial institution. The event will take place on Thursday, December 12, 2024, at 6:30 PM in Room MS150, Uni Mail. We are honored to welcome distinguished speakers: - Yassine Ben Hamida – Vontobel Head, Geneva Branch - ⁠Michael Foeth – Senior Analyst, Swiss Equity Research, Technology & Business Services - ⁠Petter Stengard – Head of AI and Single Asset Attending this conference offers a valuable opportunity to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming investment decisions in a fast-changing world. You will gain insights from Vontobel’s leading experts on incorporating AI into financial strategies. Additionally, the post-conference aperitif provides a chance to network with the speakers and deepen your understanding of the dynamic finance sector. Finally, discover potential career paths and essential skills to thrive in this technological revolution.

This week, we had the pleasure of welcoming Ilir R., Partner & Senior Consultant at Lusenti Partners. During his presentation, he explained the specificities of allocation strategies for institutional investors. We sincerely thank him for joining us and sharing his expertise during the session! Afterwards, the Goods and Services department gave a presentation on Caterpillar, covering, among other things, its sector of activity, the risks involved in investing, and other key aspects of the company. It was a successful and informative presentation.

Today, during our weekly session, we will have the pleasure of welcoming Ilir R. , Partner & Senior Consultant at Lusenti Partners. He will share his expertise on the topic of building strategic allocations for institutional invesfors, with a particular focus on how the management framework is designed, implemented, and monitored over the long term. This promises to be an interesting and enriching session.

This week, we had the pleasure of welcoming Aurelien Fezard, CFA, CAIA, Head of Fixed Income at BNP Paribas. During an engaging discussion, Aurélien shared his professional experience and offered valuable advice for our future careers. We thank him for joining us and contributing to this session! Afterward, we held our usual macroeconomic update, discussing the G20 summit and gold prices, followed by our portfolio monitoring. Finally, we concluded with a structured and detailed presentation by the financial department on Jefferies.