沙特从全球资产管理大举撤资 Saudis pull billions out of global asset managers to fund deficit

Saudi Arabia has withdrawn tens of billions of dollars from global asset managers as the oil-rich kingdom seeks to cut its widening deficit and reduce exposure to volatile equities markets amid the sustained fall in oil prices.

沙特阿拉伯已从全球资产管理公司撤资数百亿美元。在油价持续下跌的背景下，这个石油储量丰富的王国寻求削减不断扩大的赤字，并减少对股市动荡的敞口。

The foreign reserves of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency have dropped by nearly $73bn since oil prices started to decline last year as the kingdom keeps spending to sustain the economy and fund its military campaign in Yemen.

自去年油价开始下跌以来，沙特货币署(SAMA)外汇储备已下降近730亿美元，原因是该国政府维持支出以支撑经济，并为其在也门的军事行动买单。

Several asset managers were hit this month by redemptions, which came on top of an initial round of withdrawals this year, people aware of the matter said.

据知情人士透露，一些资产管理公司继今年遭遇首轮撤资后，本月又遭到赎回打击。

“It was our Black Monday,” said one fund manager, referring to the large number of assets withdrawn by Saudi Arabia last week.

一位基金经理谈到上周沙特抛售大量资产时表示：“这是我们的黑色星期一。”

The latest withdrawals will be a big blow for institutions that have benefited from years of rising assets under management from oil-rich Gulf states, but are feeling the pinch after oil prices collapsed last year.

一些资产管理机构多年来受益于为盛产石油的海湾国家管理越来越多的资产，但它们在去年油价暴跌后感到压力，沙特此次撤资对它们将是沉重打击。

Nigel Sillitoe, chief executive of financial markets intelligence company Insight Discovery, said fund managers estimated that Sama had pulled out $50bn-$70bn over the past six months.

金融市场情报公司Insight Discovery的首席执行官奈杰尔缠利托(Nigel Sillitoe)表示，基金经理们估计，近半年来沙特货币署已撤资500亿至700亿美元。

“The big question is when will they come back, because managers have been really quite reliant on Sama for business in recent years,” he said.

西利托说：“关键问题在于他们什么时候回来，因为基金经理们近年来真的相当依赖沙特货币署的业务。”

Sama’s reserves held in foreign securities have fallen $71bn in the past year, accounting for almost all of the $72.8bn reduction in overall overseas assets.

沙特货币署的外汇储备在过去一年期间下降了710亿美元，几乎占728亿美元整体海外资产下降的全部。

Other industry executives estimate that Sama has withdrawn even more than $70bn from existing managers.

其他行业高管估计，沙特货币署从现有的资产管理公司撤资甚至超过700亿美元。

While some of this cash has been used to fund the deficit, these executives say the central bank is also seeking to reinvest in less risky, more liquid products. “They are not comfortable with their exposure to global equities,” said another manager.

这些高管表示，尽管一部分资金被用来弥补赤字，但沙特央行也在寻求转投风险较低、流动性较强的产品。另一位基金经理表示：“他们觉得自己对全球股市的敞口有点不合适。”