(Pictured:Â Warren Chant) by Greg Bright Maverick superannuation researcher Warren Chant has stepped up his criticism of the mandatory MySuper default funds for disengaged members with a measured presentation at the Frontier Advisors annual conference. He added that the regulation was favouring retail funds over industry funds. Chant, the principal of Chant West Financial said: “We…
(Pictured:Â Fraser Murray) Institutional investors around the world are facing some interesting challenges. A big one is what to do in an environment of rising interest rates. An even bigger one is what happens if we get GFC Mark II. A peculiarly Australian problem is that of capacity in the local equity market. The Frontier Advisors…
by Brendan Swift Institutional investors may have an overly optimistic view of the value of alternative assets according to new research, which suggests such investments have a stronger correlation to mainstream assets than previously predicted. The authors of the ‘Asset Allocation: Risk Models for Alternative Investments’ paper argue that alternative investments, such as private equity…
(Pictured:Â Russell Mason) In a new report that highlights a high level of inadequacy in the superannuation system, Deloitte calls on superannuation funds to introduce more member-directed investment (MDI) options and the Government to consider compulsory deferred annuities. “Perhaps SMSFs are so attractive to people when they retire because large institutional funds are not offering them…
Comment by Penny Pryor As long as I’ve been writing about superannuation (close to a decade and half), longevity has been an issue. The global financial crisis only heightened the fear of ‘running out of money before you die’. I’m therefore encouraged when anyone in the industry strikes up a debate and throws in some…
(Pictured:Â Jeppe Ladekarl) Affiliated Managers Group is preparing to launch an Australian trust on behalf of its affiliate First Quadrant, called the Global Alternative Return Fund, which comes off the back of increasing demand for the strategy and some major institutional wins in the US. The strategy, recently endorsed by the State of Connecticut which awarded…
(Pictured:Â Paul Khoury) A surprisingly high proportion of Australian fund managers believe that the next 12 months presents an increased opportunity to make acquisitions and a good part of this is being driven by offshore aspirations, according to a global survey by State Street. The State Street survey of 300 senior executives of asset management firms,…
(Pictured:Â Mamadou-Abou Sarr) After 25 years of ESG investing, Northern Trust Asset Management is to better coordinate its efforts in the space and lift product innovation with the promotion of Mamadou-Abou Sarr to a new position as global head of ESG. Abu Dhabi-based Sarr has been at the forefront of Northern’s ESG activities, which tend to…
(Pictured:Â Vanessa Stoykov) With the endorsement of the Financial Services Council and support from leading research houses, marketing and television company Evolution Media has launched an investment version of its No More Practice online and broadcast series. The premiere show will be on Sky Business at the prime time of 8.30pm, next Sunday, July 6. It…
John Fildes… “We have grown faster than any other alternative trading venue anywhere in the world since our platform was launched.” When Chi-X Australia commenced full operations in November 2011 it set in train a number of positive developments for investors, including an improvement in the offerings of the former monopoly exchange, the ASX. Greg…
