The stratospheric rise of smart beta has provoked intense debate in recent years. Edhec Risk Institute feel much of this debate has been driven by misconceptions about smart beta strategies.

This year’s voting season has been one of the “most contentious ever” with shareholders expressing heightened levels of discontent over executive pay.

European investors in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) favoured fixed income and commodities – mainly gold – over recent months, flow data shows.