David Chaplin

The local economy has lost its alleged ‘rockstar’ glitz some time ago but a limited comeback tour (small venues only) could be on the cards this year, according to Nikko NZ fixed income portfolio manager, Matthew Johnson. Johnson told delegates at the annual Nikko NZ roadshow in Wellington last week that with inflation “defeated”, mortgage… [Read More…]

Niche Australian fund-rating house, SQM Research, has put the entire private credit sector ‘on watch’ amid regulatory concerns and simmering risks that could see a number of product downgrades this year. In a statement last week, the research house called out a long list of “issues” seen with “increasing frequency” in the fast-growing private credit… [Read More…]

Alternatives come in two distinct states: liquid and illiquid. But don’t mix them up; don’t mistake one for the other, according to Janus Henderson head of diversified alternatives, David Elms. Elms, also co portfolio manager of the Janus Henderson Global Multi-Strategy Fund, said while both private and public market alternatives offer legitimate diversification benefits, investors… [Read More…]

Global regulators are racing to stay ahead of fast-developing artificial intelligence (AI) technology as it seeps into financial markets, according to a new report, with innovative tools likely needed to combat novel risks. The International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) study says that just four years after its first take on the tech “it is… [Read More…]

Global government and corporates embarked on a US$25 trillion borrowing spree last year taking the collective outstanding bond debt mountain above US$100 trillion, according to the OECD. In its second annual dive into global bond markets, the OECD report says both corporate and sovereign borrowers will face “refinancing risks” amid persistent high interest rates. Total… [Read More…]

The Financial Markets Authority (FMA) contractor budget blew out to more than $13 million over the 2023/24 reporting year amid mounting legal and technology expenses. Responding to 200 parliamentary questions earlier this month, the regulator revealed an almost 30 per cent year-on-year increase in third-party expertise costs and close to double the annual contractor budget… [Read More…]

Booster has opened up a new line of unlocked funds based on its KiwiSaver offering. The just-released Wealth Series products offer investors access to five diversified strategies, straddling risk profiles from moderate to the high-risk geared growth fund. Di Papadopoulos, appointed last week as Booster chief, said the Wellington-headquartered manager created the new fund range… [Read More…]

KiwiSaver has seen an uptick in pension-age members holding on to their accounts suggesting the regime is increasingly perceived as a post-employment investment option, according to a new Melville Jessup Weaver (MJW) report. The MJW study, the fourth in an annual series commissioned by Te Ara Ahunga Ora Retirement Commission, shows a “gradual increase” of… [Read More…]

Generate leapt above the BNZ scheme in the KiwiSaver size rankings during the December quarter in a stand-out growth spurt that added almost $600 million to the boutique scheme assets. According to the latest Plan for Life (PFL) data, Generate recorded a growth-rate of 9.2 per cent over the final three months of 2024 to… [Read More…]

Life insurer AIA NZ is recruiting for a new head of investments in a role currently held by Matt Mobbs. An AIA spokesperson said Mobbs “has indicated a desire to take on a different challenge, so we are currently recruiting externally for the role”. He joined the insurance firm three years ago as head of… [Read More…]