Russell Investments has embarked on a “massive study” on the lessons for active management in the pandemic era. Dr Leola Ross, Russell investment strategy research director, told the group’s NZ virtual annual conference audience last week that all investors should review their market beliefs in the wake of COVID-19. “We’re figuring out our own expectations… [Read More…]
Investment News
Fees drop on four Harbour funds
Harbour Asset Management will cut fees on a third of its funds as of July 1 including a 30 per cent reduction for the group’s long-short product. The Wellington-headquartered boutique says investor costs on four of its 12 portfolio investment entity (PIE) products will fall as the second half of 2020 kicks off. As well… [Read More…]
IIS lands ANZ tech leader for board; AMP Life sorts investment roles
Former ANZ NZ head of digital and transformation, Liz Maguire, has joined the Implemented Investment Solutions (IIS) group of companies as director. IIS founder, Anthony Edmonds, said Maguire would serve as an independent director on the boards of both IIS and subsidiary firm InvestNow. Edmonds said securing Maguire on the dual boards was a “real… [Read More…]
With China, going direct looks a better bet: bfinance study
While an estimated four out of five big international investors, including Australian super funds, gain their China equities exposures through emerging markets (EM) strategies and funds, a new study by bfinance, the global research and mandates search firm, says that a single-country exposure to China is likely to deliver the best results. More big investors… [Read More…]
Universal transformers: how big funds can change portfolios and planet…
A new Mercer study has identified an almost US$6.3 trillion annual “transformational investment” hole across six major global systemic trends. According to the Mercer report, produced on behalf of the World Economic Forum (WEF), “universal shareholders” such as sovereign wealth funds are well-placed to fill the transformational-investing void – earning higher returns and saving the… [Read More…]
… as Amazon chucks $2bn at climate
The world’s fourth-largest company run by the richest person on the planet has seeded a US$2 billion fund to help turn back the tide of climate change. In a release last week, Amazon said the new Climate Pledge fund would back “visionary companies whose products and services will facilitate the transition to a zero carbon… [Read More…]
Index provider set to banish Argentina and Turkey to the frontier
Once among the world’s richest countries, Argentina’s ignominious slide down the global rankings has continued with a looming downgrade from index provider, MSCI. In a release last week, MSCI warned Argentina – a star economy in the early 20th century – could be ejected from its emerging markets index along with Turkey. Dimitris Melas, MSCI… [Read More…]
It’s who you know: why CDD should be automated
Financial services education and compliance firm, Strategi, has produced a new guide for NZ entities caught under anti-money laundering (AML) regulations. Authored by Strategi head of risk and compliance, Selvan Naidoo, the paper argues for a widespread adoption of automated ‘customer due diligence’ (CDD) processes. Naidoo said many AML reporting entities still rely on manual… [Read More…]
Bagnall fund waits on due diligence report as ACC cleans up its carbon act
The Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) is awaiting the findings of a due diligence report before formally handing over a $1.5 billion global equities portfolio to former chief investment officer, Nicholas Bagall. Bagnall said the Mercer Sentinel review of Te Ahumairangi Investment Management (TAIM), the wholesale fund management shop he opened last year, was probably six… [Read More…]
Naming wrongs: how ABC could spell trouble for FAPs
The Financial Markets Authority (FMA) has wrapped a surprisingly great idea in faulty packaging, according to a leading industry lawyer. David Ireland, Kensington Swan partner, said the FMA plan, released in a new consultation paper last week, to split full financial advice licensing into three streams spoilt only by the naming conventions. Under the FMA… [Read More…]