Fiona Trafford-Walker Fiona Trafford-Walker has maintained her position as one of the top 10 asset consultants in the world, according to a US investment media outlet, but she is now the only Australian on the list, which is compiled annually by Asset International. Trafford-Walker, the long-time head of investments for Frontier Advisors, is ranked number…
Fiona Mackenzie Australian-based infrastructure manager CP2 (formerly known as Capital Partners) has been dropped from the New Zealand Superannuation Fund roster in favour of in-house management. The $NZ30 billion (A$27.3 billion) will now manage in-house the approximately NZ$370 million previously held by CP2 in two separate mandates, a spokesperson for the fund said. According to…
Bruce Watson Bruce Watson is to leave Mine Wealth + Wellbeing, the industry fund formerly known as AUSCOAL, after an association spanning 23 years, the last 10 as chief executive. He will look for his “next opportunity” towards the end of this year. The fund has instituted a search for a replacement – either internal…
Mario Livio Why can you understand this sentence: ‘How cmoe yuor bairn is albe to udnertsnad tihs snetnece eevn tghouh olny the frist and lsat ltetres of ecah wrod are crreoct ?’. Because of innate pattern recognition, that’s why. And here’s why it’s dangerous in investments. According to global risk consultancy CheckRisk, humans’ desire to…
We hope we are not dwelling too much on the latest twist and turn over the future of Russell Investments, given the de-stabilising effect of all the talk and rumours. But ‘Investor Strategy News’ thinks it’s important, given the consulting and multi-manager firm’s historical influence on the industry worldwide and in Australia. Here’s the latest…
Mark Kiesel A global focus on credit in the hunt for yield has become a little more confusing with the delay this month of the expected increase in US official interest rates. But credit is looking attractive, according to PIMCO. The world’s largest fixed interest manager has outlined, in a short paper for clients last…
Yasser El-Ansary The Australian private equity and venture sector is on track for another good returns year, according to participants at the recent AVCAL conference, probably eclipsing last year’s 22 per cent after fees. But the biggest funders of the sector, now, are offshore sovereign and pension funds. Super funds are missing out. The annual…
Ian Dunbar AustralianSuper has sided with the NSW Government and data provider Dion Global Solutions in getting behind the latest major fintech startup conference, which takes place in Sydney next week. The conference will showcase 32 Australian and New Zealand innovators in the space. Ian Dunbar, the former UBS executive who was instrumental in the…
Richard Brandweiner The $65 billion First State Super has invested $110 million into the Australian venture capital manager Blackbird Ventures, in one of the largest mandates for the local venture industry that has struggled to compete with offshore industries – especially in Silicon Valley. First State Super CIO, Richard Brandweiner, said last week: ‘We are…
Shamez Alibhai Most impact investing relies in part on some government funding or philanthropic involvement to lever an investment up to investment grade. One UK manager, Cheyne Capital’s Shamez Alibhai, is proving that this is not essential. He has delivered 10-12 per cent a year, levered, from affordable housing for the past two years. Alibhai,…
