Investment News

Melville Jessup Weaver (MJW) principal, Ben Trollip, has warned against the temptations of market timing despite historically high valuations across almost all asset classes, positive correlations and suppressed volatility. In the December quarter MJW investment survey published last week, Trollip says most investors should ignore the lure of tactical asset allocation (TAA) even amid an… [Read More…]

Lifetime Retirement Income has hired former Trustees Executors (TE) head of fund administration, Geoff Cheesewright, as chief operating officer. Ralph Stewart, Lifetime founder, said the COO role was established following a growth spurt at the group that now manages about $1.3 billion via several product lines. Cheesewright was a long-time TE senior manager, making the… [Read More…]

The ASX-listed financial services software firm, Iress, has offloaded another piece of the furniture after selling its Australian superannuation unit to global administration roll-up giant, Apex Group, for a maximum A$60 million. In a deal worth A$40 million in cash plus up to A$20 million continent on meeting future revenue targets over the following 12… [Read More…]

The ESG backsliding in the US continues apace with Northern Trust Asset Management joining the recent mass exodus of financial institutions from climate-related pacts. Northern Trust is one of the latest to abandon the, now-paused, Net Zero Asset Management (NZAM) initiative as well as another climate change investment industry body. NZAM went on hiatus this… [Read More…]

Sustainable-labelled funds in the US saw net outflows worsen in 2024 even as traditional peers enjoyed boom times, according to a new Sustainalytics report. The Morningstar environmental, social and governance (ESG) research subsidiary found US sustainable fund net outflows increased to US$19.6 billion last year from US$13.3 billion in 2023. “By contrast, investors poured about… [Read More…]

PIMCO is tipping bonds to outperform equities over the next five years, citing historical precedents for a fixed income resurgence in a recent investor note. “Looking back at bond and equity markets on average since 1973, during similar periods when U.S. core bonds are yielding around 5% or greater while U.S. equities’ earnings ratios are… [Read More…]

Former Tower boss, Blair Turnbull, has emerged as the new chief executive for Milford Asset Management, replacing incumbent, Mark Ryland. Turnbull resigned from Tower last November following a three-year stint with the insurer due to formally finish on February 12. Meanwhile, Ryland will vacate the $22 billion plus boutique on March 12 after handing in… [Read More…]

Annuitas is on the lookout for a new chief investment officer after incumbent, Anthony Halls, handed in his notice. Halls is due to finish a less than two-year shift at the government pension fund management shop on March 31. He joined Annuitas in July 2023 following a year-long hiatus from the industry to replace long-time… [Read More…]

Become Wealth is reviewing its investment approach as the boutique advisory firm just passed the $1 billion threshold for funds under advice (FUA). The review will cover both broad product recommendations and Become’s $100 million plus discretionary investment management service (DIMS) “including portfolio construction”, according to a spokesperson. Become, which has a cornerstone contract to… [Read More…]

BlackRock has shrugged off a series of ‘anti-woke’ political assaults in its home country to serve up another bumper profit and record assets under management during the final quarter of 2024. The global investment behemoth reported profits of US$1.6 billion over the three months to December 31, about on par with the previous quarterly results,… [Read More…]