The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) wheeled out its updated financial services armoury last week, promoting a new Mercer-backed KiwiSaver scheme to the troops. In addition to the KiwiSaver scheme – first flagged on Investment News NZ (IN NZ) this March – the NZDF will offer staff access to third-party financial advice through Milestone Direct…. [Read More…]
Tauranga trust picks three for $150m growth mandate
After a more than five-month due diligence process the Tauranga Energy Consumer Trust (TECT) has farmed out almost $150 million among three fund managers. Wayne Werder, TECT general manager, said the trust – which raised the money after selling down about 20 per cent of its shareholding in Trustpower this April – had gone for… [Read More…]
Now sovereign wealth funds unite in more fee pressure
Sovereign wealth funds must begin exerting collective pressure on the financial industry over costs, the seventh annual meeting of the International Forum of Sovereign Wealth Funds was told last week. The 29-member body represents 70 per cent of the world’s sovereign wealth fund assets. Adrian Orr, the IFSWF’s chair – and chief executive of New… [Read More…]
Thematic ETF products hit the NZ stage…
Grosvenor has officially launched its new range of exchange-traded fund (ETF) products, first flagged this August, naming five underlying managers. The BlackRock-owned iShares, Vanguard, State Street (via its SPDR range), PowerShares, and Van Eck Global’s ETF unit Market Vectors, all feed at least one product each into the Grosvenor ‘Specialist Series’ range of four portfolio… [Read More…]
… as smart funds answer passive demand, Morningstar study finds
Listed ‘smart beta’ products are on the rise globally, according to a new report by research house Morningstar. Morningstar says the over the 12 months to June 30, 2015, the listed smart beta fund market has grown faster than the traditional cap-weighted exchange-traded product (ETP) business “as well as the asset-management industry as a whole”…. [Read More…]
FMA fees up but under budget as regulator reports deficit
The Financial Markets Authority (FMA) more than doubled the licensing fees collected from the industry over the latest annual reporting period. According to the just-published FMA annual report for the 12 months to June 30 this year, the regulator collected $770,000 in licence fees from the industry, compared to $341,000 over the 2014 period. While… [Read More…]
TE keeps Harbour admin business safe
Harbour Asset Management has retained its incumbent fund admin provider, Trustees Executors (TE), after putting the service out for tender to the wider market. TE is also currently vying with Mercer for the Fisher Funds back-office spoils, Investment News NZ reported last week. The $6.6 billion Fisher is looking to rationalise its fund admin providers,… [Read More…]
The downside of technology and regulation in trading
Likely changes in trading and execution on major financial markets due to technological disruption combined with the impact of regulations will not all be good for the ultimate investor. Opportunities will be forgone in the demand for more transparent, simpler and liquid products. Speaking at last week’s annual FIX Trading Community conference in Sydney, Larry… [Read More…]
Kiwis shine at regional fintech awards
New Zealand firms came out as top dogs with a quinella result at an Australasian fintech industry awards event last week. Wellington-headquartered online financial education start-up, Banqer, secured ‘best in show’ at the Afiniation fintech innovation awards in Sydney. Fellow NZ capital-dweller, data migration specialist Eight Wire, was named runner-up in the best-of category at… [Read More…]
Special Report: KiwiSaver at 8 – full market analysis now available
ANZ has strengthened its position as the number one KiwiSaver provider, according to an Investment News NZ (IN NZ) special report released today. The ‘Pieces of eight’ report found ANZ, across its three schemes, grew both its share of total market KiwiSaver funds under management (FUM) and membership by more than 1 per cent in… [Read More…]