News

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,…

Kirby Rappell SunSuper, Catholic Super, QSuper and Telstra Super are the only funds to make it to the finalists’ lists of each of the three major categories in the SuperRatings awards this year. The awards and preceding ‘Day of Confrontation’ have moved from the Ivy to the Four Seasons Hotel in Sydney to accommodate an…

Brian Keogh  Equipsuper has appointed Thomas Murray IDS to assist in a review of its custody and securities servicing contract as the sector continues to keep custodians and consultants busy with a record level of activity. Thomas Murray, which is famous for its ‘Star Chamber’ quizzing of short-listed custodians, this year expanded in Australia with…

 David Braga The growing importance of environment social and governance (ESG) issues in funds management has also increased demand for better data and analytics from securities servicing firms. David Braga, the managing director of BNP Paribas Securities Services in Australia and New Zealand, told a briefing last Friday that sustainability had become a “new pillar”…

David Clarke The hedge fund industry is concerned about the increasing frequency and severity of cyber attacks, especially in the US, and is about to publish a paper on the subject. Meanwhile, a big Australian manager, QIC, has just taken out insurance against cyber attacks for its US operation. The Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA)…

Alistair Rew  Just as technology is disrupting most industries, so it will disrupt the main participants in the investment management industry. Hedge fund managers, though, by there nature should be nimble enough to thrive in the future. The final session of last week’s AIMA Australia Hedge Fund Forum – with a panel of six investors…

Raewyn Williams New Parametric research shows a marked difference in return enhancements when comparing super funds using a specialist implementation manager versus a backoffice custodial solution to manage the tax impact of investing. “More funds are turning to questions of ‘how,’ and ‘who’ can help them to fulfil their legal obligation to focus on after-tax returns,”…