Red ink was back in demand this February for Aon as negative returns in most asset classes added colour to the investment consultant’s monthly NZ update. After years dressed mainly in black, the latest Aon NZ investment report features red across almost all of its short-term performance numbers. According to the Aon report released last… [Read More…]
Archives for 2018
Research highlights special NZ factors, new active target
The NZ equity market has a unique ‘factor’ profile compared to global norms, according to new Russell Investments research, that could form the basis of a new active management benchmark. Sydney-based Russell portfolio manager, James Harwood, told the group’s annual conference in Wellington last week that ‘momentum’ and ‘growth’ were particularly strong factors in NZ… [Read More…]
APRA starts ‘target 30’ merger campaign: a death by 1,000 cuts
Last August, APRA wrote to about 30 super funds to tell them they needed to either outsource their investments, based on APRA’s own metrics, or merge their funds with another – larger – fund. Now, it’s starting to happen. The first two ‘forced’ mergers are underway. When you talk to the people who run the… [Read More…]
Quick quants: why a month is a long time in statistics
The long term isn’t what it used to be: at least for quantitative investors. Paul Zummo, JP Morgan Alternative AM Hedge Fund Solutions (JPMAAM) chief, told a NZ audience last week that in the big data era “anything over a month” qualifies as long term for the new breed of quant manager. Zummo, speaking at… [Read More…]
How NZ investors can face fixed income fears
Investors need to adjust to changing market conditions but not fear them, Nikko Asset Management NZ head of bonds and currency, Fergus McDonald, said last week. McDonald told the Nikko 2018 Investment Summit audience that “certainty has become a very rare commodity” in markets this year. He said a raft of issues had conspired to… [Read More…]
Calvert’s ESG strategy: keep your enemies close
John Streur is one of the few, perhaps only, fund managers in the world who knows a lot about guns. He blogs about guns. He is a liberal who is an anti-gun activist. And yet, his firm owns shares in a big gun retailer. He believes in engagement, rather than doing the ‘Wall Street walk’,… [Read More…]
Glittering launch for Stone & Chalk new office fintech hub
Stone & Chalk, the Sydney-based fintech hub, is about to rack up its biggest investment for a client – $20 million for a ‘series B’ raising – coinciding with its move into new premises that now mark the country’s major centre for innovation in the financial services industry. Stone & Chalk has moved into 11… [Read More…]
Booster runs out of Options as Nikko KiwiSaver launch looms
Booster has dropped the Nikko Asset Management Options Fund from its stable in a move that could see over $100 million change horses. In a just-released supplementary disclosure document, Booster says the Options product – offered via the Wellington-based firm’s KiwiSaver and superannuation funds – would close to new members from March 21 this year…. [Read More…]
Cullen committee to investigate how CGT could put finger in PIEs, KiwiSaver, retirement plans
Retirement savings concessions, a rethink of the capital gains tax (CGT) relief on most NZ and Australian shares within portfolio investment entities (PIE) and changes to the fair dividend regime (FDR) will all be up for discussion under the Sir Michael Cullen-headed tax reform consultation. Cullen said a broad-based CGT (excluding the family home) –… [Read More…]
Draft code sets new degrees of difficulty for advisers
Full-blown financial planning advice would require close to degree-standard qualifications under the proposed new industry Code of Conduct published last week. The draft code sets out a minimum standard of either a degree (at a minimum level 7 ranking) in “financial planning, accountancy, business, commerce, economics, finance, or management” or another relevant qualification – “possibly… [Read More…]