Perhaps the assumption that markets are still anchored by predictable economic policies needs to be challenged. For the first time since the fall of the Berlin Wall, political volatility – once background noise – is potentially reshaping investment risk at a structural level.
Despite authorities taking their foot off the environmental, social and governance pedal and recent volatility in equities and bonds, the benefits of Artificial Intelligence and improved investor transparency are just beginning.
Catholic fund replaces Russell with Towers
The Sydney-based Australian Catholic Superannuation and Retirement Fund has appointed Towers Watson as its new asset consultant, replacing Russell Investments.
The $5 billion 90,000-member public offer industry fund has 11 investment options. In the year to June 2012 the growth fund returned minus 3.4 per cent while the My Super balanced fund was minus 1.1 per cent. The fund was tracking for a big improvement in 2013, with the growth fund returning 16.6 per cent in the 11 months to May and the My Super balanced fund 13.7 per cent.
The fund has a socially responsible balanced investing option but includes ESG considerations in all investment decisions. It is also a signatory to UNPRI.
Towers Watson announced in April the appointment of five new people to its investment arm – two consultants and three analysts. The consultants were Sean Brereton, from Access Capital, and Dania Zinurova, from Russell via Towers’ London office.Â
