Schroders, Ashmore shares jump after boost from buoyant markets

By Iain Withers

LONDON, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Shares in British money managers Schroders SDR.L and Ashmore ASHM.L leapt on Thursday after the companies issued forecast-beating trading updates, lifted by rallying markets last year.

Asset managers like Schroders and Ashmore focused on active funds have struggled in recent years to compete with the popularity of cheaper passive products like index-trackers offered by U.S. giants such as BlackRock BLK.N.

The figures outlined suggest an improving picture for some stock pickers.

Schroders' shares jumped 8% after the company said annual adjusted profit would be at least 745 million pounds ($1 billion), up 24% on the prior year, while emerging markets-focused manager Ashmore's stock leapt 14% after reporting strong net inflows.

Schroders CEO Richard Oldfield revamped the company's strategy last year to pursue 150 million pounds of cost savings over three years and to focus on its better-performing wealth business.

"Today’s unscheduled trading update shows clear progress on all fronts, well ahead of the market’s expectations," analysts at Panmure Liberum said in a note.

Schroders said improved management fees and better performing assets had lifted its profit.

Analysts at RBC said the profit outlined was well ahead of consensus, while net new business of 11 billion pounds was roughly as expected. Its assets under management also increased to about 825 billion pounds.

Ashmore said its second quarter was boosted by investors piling into emerging market assets amid rising risks in the United States.

Investors are "increasingly recognising the superior investment returns available in emerging markets and the inherent risks of maintaining portfolios that have become heavily weighted to the U.S.," Ashmore said in its trading update.

($1 = 0.7444 pounds)