Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, investment managers have been bedeviled by the question of how much attention they should pay to geopolitics. Part of the answer can be found in parking lots.
Despite its physical proximity, South East Asia has seen little direct investment from Australia’s super funds. Could soaring interest in the region from other big investors change that?
Super funds have been heading down the path to massive size for more than two decades. They’ve arrived when the transition to a net-zero economy needs that size the most.
Markets now move a lot faster than they did during the GFC, while expected and unexpected threats to them are emerging more often and in combination. How should super funds respond?
AMP’s best deserve more than its worst, but the unilateral reduction of their redundancy benefits means that’s what they’ve gotten. There’s still time for its executive committee to make good.
Australia’s sophisticated super fund market makes it the perfect asset servicing ‘laboratory’ for the international custody banks, which are well-placed to help those funds further their offshore ambitions.
AMP has cut redundancy pay maximums and notice periods in a move that has left long-term employees dismayed after they stuck with the company through the royal commission and its aftermath.
In the accumulation phase the super fund CIO and investment team is at the wheel. But as more and more members start retiring they’ll have to share the driving.
State Street has been appointed to provide custody and administration to the $32 billion superannuation fund, with its Brisbane presence one of the key factors in the win.
Investors are worried that a market bloated with big tech companies is about to burst. But prices are high for a reason, and few can fathom the force of AI tailwinds.
