Investment News

The NZ equities trading platform space could become more crowded later this year with a new provider considering a tilt at the action. Selwyn Loekman, BlackBull Markets director of operations, said the newly licensed Auckland-based derivatives trader planned to launch a direct equities platform later this year. “We hope to offer direct equities and equities… [Read More…]

The Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) fund was hit up by about a dozen contenders within hours of floating its new $50 million ‘impact’ investment concept. George Adams, consulting to the new ACC impact venture, said the official launch last week had clearly “shaken the tree” with 12 or so companies contacting the fund on the… [Read More…]

CheckRisk, the UK-based global risk manager and information provider, has taken the big step of offering financial institutions a free risk appraisal of their banking counterparties. The firm, which helped clients through the GFC in 2008, believe most institutions and big investors were “blissfully unaware” of the nature of counterparty risks until then. Nick Bullman,… [Read More…]

As Australian institutions limp away from the wealth management battlefield, Scott Alman*, Consilium head, explains why KiwiSaver investors remain exposed to the vertically integrated weak point highlighted across the Tasman – lack of independent advice…   It was with great interest that I read the Australian Financial Review August 30 headline “IOOF to buy NAB’s… [Read More…]

The two major Australasian retail fund rating firms, Zenith and Morningstar, have taken a different tack on AMP Capital following a wave of resignations and a potential break-up of the 171-year old parent company. In a release last week, Zenith Investment Partners placed AMP Capital funds ‘under review’ citing “corporate instability” as having “the potential… [Read More…]

There aren’t too many things you could buy in the investment world, be they businesses or hard assets, that will fall in value by nearly three-quarters over a period of more than 20 years. But NAB’s sale of MLC to IOOF reflects one. With some related transactions, such as buying the AVIVA platform and insurance… [Read More…]

FNZ and Australian-based financial software firm GBST are at odds on how to resolve a looming UK regulatory ruling that could scupper their planned merger. Last month the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) handed down a provisional recommendation that would compel FNZ to offload the former ASX-listed business it bought for more than $260… [Read More…]

When we speak of factors in the institutional investment world, we tend to think about equities investing. But fixed income and credit investing also have their factors. There are just not as many of them. Importantly, though, they can still be a “free lunch” for investors, according to Mellon’s Paul Benson. Benson is the head… [Read More…]

The NZ managed funds market grew more than 7.3 per cent in the June quarter to reach about $210 billion, according to new Reserve Bank of NZ (RBNZ) figures. In dollar terms, the June quarter added some $14.3 billion to total NZ funds under management (FUM) in the RBNZ survey, which excludes the $100 billion… [Read More…]

Kiwi Invest has called for mandatory disclosure of investment exclusions and proxy voting records for all managers marketing products under environmental, social and governance (ESG) – or like – banners. In a release, Steffan Berridge, Kiwi Invest quantitative and responsible investments strategist, said compulsory disclosure of actual ESG-related activity could shine a light on the… [Read More…]