News

Riding the equity market rally and significant diversification in its alternatives portfolio has delivered Australian Retirement Trust a 10 per cent return as it keeps both eyes on the end of the rate cycle.

The $72 billion fund has dumped Link Group and partnered with upstart administration services provider Grow Inc. as it navigates a “rapidly changing technology landscape”.

Super funds and other institutional investors are deeply unsatisfied with the nature of private markets fees, but cost-additive pressures are emerging across all asset classes when fees should be falling.

UniSuper’s pioneers of internalisation have set up their own firm providing investment management and advisory services to superannuation funds as competition picks up and the need for a helping hand grows.

AustralianSuper’s appointment of a new deputy CIO with the lion’s share of responsibility for its overseas investments demonstrates the growing importance of international diversification for the country’s biggest funds.

While making it through recent market events is an “accomplishment”, asset managers need to shake things up in order to survive. They’re doubling down on what worked in the past instead.

Even with the market-shaking events of 2022 mostly in the rearview and most of the valuation pressure now played out, equities won’t be moving much higher unless something big changes.

The $70 billion super fund has appointed WTW as asset consultant to its board and board investment committee as it internalises a substantial chunk of its funds under management.

Australia’s largest super funds are casting a close eye over their property and infrastructure allocations amidst challenging market conditions, according to new research from J.P Morgan. And while investment internalisation continues to gather pace, not all funds are sold on its worth.

Even the fund has been caught off-guard by demand for its new index and socially conscious high-growth options, which were rolled out in response to members wanting more choice – but not so much that they were overwhelmed.

Treasury is fine-tuning the Your Future, Your Super performance test ahead of its next iteration in August. While the updates could pave the way for a better test, its extension to trustee-directed products is cause for consternation.

Vanguard usurped BlackRock as the biggest institutional fund manager in 2022 during a year where most firms went backwards, according to the latest Pensions & Investments global survey.